Overall
90.2
-9.8 below avg
Metro cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP
Bowling Green, KY
Cost-of-living indicators for Bowling Green, KY, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities, overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.
- 90.2
- Overall RPP
- #286
- of 387 metros
- 63.4
- Rents RPP
- $111K
- $100K national buys
Bowling Green ranks #286 of 387 U.S. metros by cost, and its overall price index has risen 3.5 points since 2008.
- rising since 2008
- similar cost to Manhattan
The verdict
Bowling Green costs less than 74% of U.S. metros, an overall index of 90.2, 9.8% below the national average, with rents the biggest swing at 63.4.
- bottom 26%
- by overall cost, nationwide
- 96.2
- goods RPP, tradable items
- 75.2
- services RPP, labor-priced
- $69K
- local median income, national buying power
A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $110,891 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $90,179.
What the Numbers Mean for Bowling Green
Bowling Green ranks #286 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the lower half by cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 90.2, Bowling Green, KY is 9.8% more affordable than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Bowling Green's most and least expensive categories - goods at 96.2 versus rents at 63.4 - is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.
Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $110,891 inside Bowling Green, while a household needs roughly $90,179 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 63.4 - 36.6% below the national average, so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.
Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Bowling Green's overall index has risen by 3.5 points, signaling tightening affordability. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 96.2 and services at 75.2, meaning everyday spending in Bowling Green is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.
Bowling Green vs every U.S. metro
Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution
90 Top 74% higher than 26% of 387 US metros
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities · 2024
Bowling Green cost breakdown
BEA RPP by category, 100 = national average
- Rents
Rents
63.4 RPP
- Services
Services
75.2 RPP
- Overall
Overall
90.2 RPP
- Goods
Goods
96.2 RPP
What this shows Bowling Green's gap from the national average is led by rents at 63.4. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.
Goods vs. housing, where Bowling Green's cost comes from
Metros near Bowling Green's overall cost, plotted by their goods price (horizontal) and housing price (vertical). Same headline RPP, very different structures.
Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 94.3, rents 64.3). Bowling Green is more goods-led than its peers, its everyday goods cost more relative to housing. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Price Index Summary
Goods
96.2
-3.8 below avg
Services
75.2
-24.8 below avg
Rents
63.4
-36.6 below avg
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$90,179
in Bowling Green, KY purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$45,090
$75,000 nationally
$67,634
$125,000 nationally
$112,724
$150,000 nationally
$135,269
$200,000 nationally
$180,358
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has been trending upward, increasing by 3.5 points over this period. The largest single-year move was in 2010, when the index jumped 3.7 points from the year before, a bigger swing than the full 2008-2024 change.
Bowling Green overall RPP, 2008-2024
Every year on record, national average = 100
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 86.6 |
| 2009 | 84.7 |
| 2010 | 88.5 |
| 2011 | 87.8 |
| 2012 | 88.7 |
| 2013 | 90.0 |
| 2014 | 89.3 |
| 2015 | 88.9 |
| 2016 | 87.3 |
| 2017 | 87.8 |
| 2018 | 87.9 |
| 2019 | 88.9 |
| 2020 | 89.4 |
| 2021 | 88.6 |
| 2022 | 89.3 |
| 2023 | 89.9 |
| 2024 | 90.2 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Bowling Green, KY's index of 90.2.
Other KY Metros
What this means for Bowling Green
How to read Bowling Green's cost of living before a move, a job offer, or a budget.
- Budget to local prices, not headline pay, a $100K national salary spends like about $110,891 in Bowling Green. Salary calculator
- Weigh housing heaviest: rents here index at 63.4 (36.6% below average) - the single largest swing in the RPP, while goods barely move between metros.
- Local median household income is $62,437; adjusted for Bowling Green's price level that is about $69,237 in national-average buying power.
- Compare Bowling Green head-to-head against a specific destination before you decide. Compare metros
RPP is BEA's annual price-level benchmark for the data year shown, not a live market quote. Pair it with current local wages and housing costs before deciding.
Compare to Other Metros
Cost of Living Guides
Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026
Official BEA data on the most affordable areas
Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings
What drives high costs and how to cope
Salary Negotiation Using RPP Data
Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations
Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Bowling Green, KY? ▼
Bowling Green, KY has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 90.2, meaning it is 9.8% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 96.2, services at 75.2, and rents at 63.4. It ranks #286 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Bowling Green, KY to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $90,179 in Bowling Green, KY. Conversely, $100K earned in Bowling Green, KY has the purchasing power of $110,891 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Bowling Green, KY? ▼
Rents in Bowling Green, KY are indexed at 63.4, which is 36.6% below the national average. This makes the area relatively affordable for renters.
Is Bowling Green, KY getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Bowling Green, KY's overall cost index changed by +3.5 points (from 86.6 to 90.2). The cost of living has been trending upward.
What costs the most in Bowling Green, KY? ▼
The priciest category in Bowling Green, KY is goods at 96.2, 3.8% below the national average, still the highest of the three categories. The most affordable category is rents at 63.4, 36.6% below average.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Bowling Green, KY? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Manhattan, Rome, Las Cruces. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Bowling Green, KY's 90.2.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Federal data behind these figures
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) - the cost-of-living indices shown on this page. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) - the gross-rent observations BEA uses to build the rents component. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) - the price program underlying BEA's goods and services price relatives. bls.gov/cpi
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) - wage reference for the labor-driven services component. bls.gov/oes
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) - federal 40th-percentile rent cross-reference for the housing component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
Every figure on PlainCost is rendered directly from BEA Regional Price Parity source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on BEA Regional Price Parity source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, our changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Rankings measure the published cost-of-living index only; we don't recommend where to live or rate any metro's quality of life.