Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,010/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 $1,010 in Baton Rouge, LA versus $1,020 in Bowling Green, KY. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bowling Green, KY, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $48,419 in Bowling Green, KY — about 3% higher in Baton Rouge, LA. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
Bowling Green, KY

Rent

Studio
$881
$878
+0% in Baton Rouge, LA
1 Bedroom
$854
$833
+2% in Baton Rouge, LA
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$960
+11% in Baton Rouge, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$1,214
+2% in Baton Rouge, LA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$232,100
+3% in Bowling Green, KY

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$48,419
+3% in Baton Rouge, LA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$45,040
+8% in Baton Rouge, LA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
27.9 yr
+3.9 yr in Baton Rouge, LA
Homeownership
46.9%
37.3%
+9.6 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
32.0%
+3.8 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Avg Commute
21.1 min
18.8 min
+2.3 min in Baton Rouge, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
231
+24% in Baton Rouge, LA
Property Crime
1,756.3
2,984.4
+70% in Bowling Green, KY

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
68.5°F
58.0°F
+10.5°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
49.9 in
+10.8 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
15.0
+6% in Bowling Green, KY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$29.48
+77% in Bowling Green, KY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / KY)
5%
6%
+1.0 pp in KY
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
3.50%
+0.5 pp in KY

Baton Rouge vs Bowling Green — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Bowling Green?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Bowling Green, KY's $1,020, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Bowling Green?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $33,000 in Bowling Green.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Bowling Green?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% 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).