Cost of living in Bowling Green, KY
197,180 people (Census 2025 estimate). Overall prices are 9.8% below the US average, with housing at 63.4 on BEA’s index (US = 100). A single renter on $60,000 keeps $1,431 a month after 2026 taxes and modeled costs.
Typical household budgets in Bowling Green, KY
Computed by MoveMath’s engine with 2026 tax law, HUD Fair Market Rent for the bedrooms each household needs, DOL 2022 childcare prices for Warren County, KY in current dollars, USDA Moderate-Cost food, one car per adult and $1,000 a month of other spending at US-average prices scaled by local price levels.
| Per month | Single, $60k | Couple + toddler, $110k | Family of four, $63,328 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross income | $5,000 | $9,167 | $5,277 |
| Taxes | $966 | $1,566 | $579 |
| Take-home pay | $4,034 | $7,601 | $4,699 |
| Housing | $1,020 | $1,199 | $1,199 |
| Childcare | $0 | $607 | $1,248 |
| Food | $424 | $951 | $1,234 |
| Transportation | $164 | $329 | $329 |
| Sales tax | $29 | $29 | $29 |
| Other goods & services | $966 | $966 | $966 |
| Left over | $1,431 | $3,520 | −$306 |
Family of four = two adults, a preschooler and a school-age child at the metro’s median household income ($63,328). Click a column to open it in the budget planner and change any input.
Price levels: Bowling Green, KY vs Kentucky and the US
BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. 100 = US average; bars compare the metro (dark) with Kentucky statewide (light).
Within Kentucky, Bowling Green, KY ranks 4th of 6 metros on overall prices; the state as a whole is at 90.2. The dashed line marks the US average.
Rent and homeownership
| Unit | HUD Fair Market Rent | Income needed at 30% | Share of median income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $920 | $36,800 | 17.4% |
| 1-bedroom | $1,020 | $40,800 | 19.3% |
| 2-bedroom | $1,199 | $47,960 | 22.7% |
| 3-bedroom | $1,438 | $57,520 | 27.2% |
| 4-bedroom | $1,959 | $78,360 | 37.1% |
FY2027 FMRs for Bowling Green, KY HUD Metro FMR Area: 40th-percentile gross rent (rent + tenant-paid utilities) for standard-quality units. Census median gross rent, all unit sizes: $975 (ACS 2020-2024).
Childcare prices in Warren County, KY
| Age band | Center, weekly (2022) | Center, yearly today* | Home-based, weekly (2022) | Home-based, yearly today* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $125 | $7,960 | $115 | $7,335 |
| Toddler (2) | $115 | $7,288 | $99 | $6,299 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $115 | $7,288 | $99 | $6,299 |
| School-age (5–12) | $121 | $7,693 | $109 | $6,935 |
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022 county medians for full-time care in Warren County, KY (the metro’s principal county). *52 weeks × 1.2224, the BLS CPI change for day care and preschool from the 2022 average to 2026-08.
Taxes: what you keep in Bowling Green
| Single filer, 2026 | $50,000 | $75,000 | $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 |
| Kentucky income tax | $1,632 | $2,507 | $4,082 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,394 | $4,924 | $7,431 |
| Share of pay to taxes | 18.6% | 21.2% | 25.7% |
Some Kentucky cities and counties levy local income taxes; none for Bowling Green is in our verified data, so local tax is not included. State sales tax: 6% (state rate only; local rates add on), groceries exempt.
Calculate take-home pay for your household in Bowling Green, KY
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05. Renters’ utilities are already inside gross rent.
Nearby metros
| Metro | Distance | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Single $60k left over |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green, KY | — | 90.2 | $1,199 | $1,431 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY · compare | 58 mi | 90.9 | $1,307 | $1,533 (+$102) |
| Elizabethtown, KY · compare | 59 mi | 90.6 | $1,087 | $1,585 (+$154) |
| Nashville, TN · compare | 59 mi | 96.3 | $1,798 | $953 (−$478) |
| Owensboro, KY · compare | 66 mi | 88.6 | $1,138 | $1,581 (+$150) |
| Evansville, IN · compare | 92 mi | 91.5 | $1,127 | $1,541 (+$109) |
| Louisville, KY-IN · compare | 93 mi | 93.1 | $1,276 | $1,284 (−$147) |
Frequently asked questions
Is Bowling Green, KY expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put overall prices in the Bowling Green, KY metro at 90.2 (US = 100) in 2024 — 9.8% below the national average and the 286th highest of 387 metros. Housing is 63.4, goods 96.2.
What salary do you need to live in Bowling Green, KY?+
A single renter earning $60,000 keeps $4,034 a month after 2026 taxes and has $1,431 left after rent at HUD Fair Market Rent, food, fuel, sales tax and other modeled costs. Use the cost of living calculator to find the salary that matches your current budget.
How much is rent in Bowling Green, KY?+
HUD’s FY2027 Fair Market Rent — the 40th-percentile gross rent including utilities — is $1,020 for a 1-bedroom and $1,199 for a 2-bedroom. The Census median gross rent for all units is $975.
Does Bowling Green have a local income tax?+
Some Kentucky cities and counties levy local income taxes; none for Bowling Green is in our verified data, so local tax is not included.