Living Cost Compare
Albuquerque

New Mexico

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Bowling Green

Kentucky

$1,020/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,030 in Albuquerque, NM versus $1,020 in Bowling Green, KY. Overall, Bowling Green, KY is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Albuquerque, NM, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,604 in Albuquerque, NM and $48,419 in Bowling Green, KY — about 26% higher in Albuquerque, NM. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Albuquerque, NM
Bowling Green, KY

Rent

Studio
$797
$878
+10% in Bowling Green, KY
1 Bedroom
$889
$833
+6% in Albuquerque, NM
2 Bedroom
$1,140
$960
+16% in Albuquerque, NM
3 Bedroom
$1,459
$1,214
+17% in Albuquerque, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$266,700
$232,100
+13% in Albuquerque, NM

Income

Median Household Income
$65,604
$48,419
+26% in Albuquerque, NM
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,060
$45,040
+6% in Albuquerque, NM

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.7 yr
27.9 yr
+10.8 yr in Albuquerque, NM
Homeownership
61.5%
37.3%
+24.2 pp in Albuquerque, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.7%
32.0%
+6.7 pp in Albuquerque, NM
Avg Commute
22.2 min
18.8 min
+3.4 min in Albuquerque, NM

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,194.3
231
+81% in Albuquerque, NM
Property Crime
4,766.6
2,984.4
+37% in Albuquerque, NM

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
57.2°F
58.0°F
+0.8°F in Bowling Green, KY
Annual Precipitation
9.4 in
49.9 in
+40.4 in in Bowling Green, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Bowling Green, KY

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
Free
—

Adult base one-way fare — ABQ RIDE vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
15.0
+6% in Bowling Green, KY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.90
$29.48
+148% in Bowling Green, KY

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Albuquerque, NM
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Albuquerque, NM
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Bowling Green, KY
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Albuquerque, NM
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Albuquerque, NM
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Albuquerque, NM

Average prices — West vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NM / KY)
4.875%
6%
+1.1 pp in KY
Income Tax (top rate)
5.90%
3.50%
+2.4 pp in NM

Albuquerque vs Bowling Green — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Bowling Green?
Bowling Green, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Albuquerque, NM's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in Bowling Green?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $33,000 in Bowling Green.
Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Bowling Green?
Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Bowling Green under Kentucky's (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).