Bowling Green, KY Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Bowling Green, KY Summary

Cost of living in Bowling Green research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Bowling Green is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Kentucky, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Bowling Green is 95, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Bowling Green is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Bowling Green ranks as the #48 cheapest in Kentucky out of 84.

  • Bowling Green ranks as the #1,954 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Bowling Green is $284,074.

  • The median income in Bowling Green is $48,419.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
95
Bowling Green's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Bowling Green, KY?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Bowling Green has an overall cost of living index of 95, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Kentucky, Bowling Green has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Kentucky's index of 92.

The standard of living in Bowling Green ranks as #48 most affordable out of the 84 places we measured in Kentucky. By definition, that implies Bowling Green ranks as the #36 most expensive place in the Bluegrass State.

For more reading on life in Bowling Green, check out:

48 out of 84
In Kentucky
1,954 out of 6,489
In America

Bowling Green Cost Of Living Vs. Kentucky

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Bowling Green. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Bowling Green is 95.

  • The Groceries index in Bowling Green is 99.

  • The Health index in Bowling Green is 92.

  • The Housing index in Bowling Green is 89.

  • The Transportation index in Bowling Green is 91.

  • The Utilities index in Bowling Green is 102.

Living Expense Bowling Green Kentucky National Average
Overall 95 92 100
Services 95 101 100
Groceries 99 99 100
Health 92 85 100
Housing 89 71 100
Transportation 91 94 100
Utilities 102 105 100
For more reading on cost of living around Kentucky, check out:
Bowling Green Cost of Living Vs. KY

Bowling Green, KY Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Kentucky, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Bowling Green is $284,074.

  • The Median Rent in Bowling Green is $948.

  • The Median Income in Bowling Green is $48,419.

  • The Home Value To Income in Bowling Green is 5.9x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Bowling Green is 0.23x.

Statistic Bowling Green Kentucky United States
Median Home Value $284,074 $226,606 $303,400
Median Rent $948 $933 $1,348
Median Income $48,419 $62,417 $78,538
Home Value To Income 5.9x 3.6x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.23x 0.18x 0.21x
$284,074
Median Home Value
$948
Median Rent
$48,419
Median Income

Bowling Green, KY Costs By Category

Detailed Bowling Green Services Costs Vs. Kentucky

Item Bowling Green Kentucky
Shampoo $1.23 $1.28
Movie $13.3 $12.13
Bowling $19.79 $18
Haircut $24.76 $24.26
Beauty Salon $46.01 $45.56

Detailed Bowling Green Groceries Costs Vs. Kentucky

Item Bowling Green Kentucky
Ground Beef $5.7 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.43 $1.57
Milk $4.68 $4.67
Potatoes $5.16 $4.93
Pizza $10.85 $12.09
Beer $10.05 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.71 $3.7

Detailed Bowling Green Health Costs Vs. Kentucky

Item Bowling Green Kentucky
Optometrist $96.03 $125.68
Doctor $116.91 $135.78
Dentist $104.65 $113.29

Detailed Bowling Green Transportation Costs Vs. Kentucky

Item Bowling Green Kentucky
Gasoline $3.12 $3.46
Tire Balancing $57.43 $59.92

Detailed Bowling Green Utilities Costs Vs. Kentucky

Item Bowling Green Kentucky
All Electricity $183.77 $193.99
Phone $218.37 $192.25

Bowling Green SnackAbility

5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
5/10
Housing
7
Affordability
5
Diversity
8.5
Safety
4
Amenities
8.5
Education
7
Commute
8.5

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Bowling Green

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Bowling Green. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Hendersonville, TN has a cost of living index of 109, 1.1x Bowling Green.

  • Gallatin, TN has a cost of living index of 104, 1.1x Bowling Green.

  • Central, LA has a cost of living index of 106, 1.1x Bowling Green.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Bowling Green
Hendersonville, TN 62,390 109 1.1x
Gallatin, TN 46,667 104 1.1x
Central, LA 29,603 106 1.1x
Goodlettsville, TN 17,598 108 1.1x
White House, TN 13,875 101 1.1x
Portland, TN 13,325 94 1.0x
Franklin, KY 10,254 90 0.9x
Greenbrier, TN 6,960 101 1.1x
Millersville, TN 5,885 100 1.1x

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