Living Cost Compare
Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/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 $1,190 in Birmingham, AL versus $1,020 in Bowling Green, KY. Overall, Bowling Green, KY is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Birmingham, AL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,376 in Birmingham, AL and $48,419 in Bowling Green, KY — about 8% higher in Bowling Green, KY. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Birmingham, AL
Bowling Green, KY

Rent

Studio
$857
$878
+2% in Bowling Green, KY
1 Bedroom
$1,004
$833
+17% in Birmingham, AL
2 Bedroom
$1,005
$960
+4% in Birmingham, AL
3 Bedroom
$1,188
$1,214
+2% in Bowling Green, KY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$138,600
$232,100
+67% in Bowling Green, KY

Income

Median Household Income
$44,376
$48,419
+9% in Bowling Green, KY
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,770
$45,040
+6% in Birmingham, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
27.9 yr
+8.0 yr in Birmingham, AL
Homeownership
45.1%
37.3%
+7.8 pp in Birmingham, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.7%
32.0%
+1.3 pp in Bowling Green, KY
Avg Commute
21.5 min
18.8 min
+2.7 min in Birmingham, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,274.7
231
+82% in Birmingham, AL
Property Crime
4,233
2,984.4
+29% in Birmingham, AL

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
63.3°F
58.0°F
+5.3°F in Birmingham, AL
Annual Precipitation
53.7 in
49.9 in
+3.8 in in Birmingham, AL

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)
16.8
15.0
+11% in Birmingham, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.64
$29.48
+30% 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 (AL / KY)
4%
6%
+2.0 pp in KY
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
3.50%
+1.5 pp in AL

Birmingham vs Bowling Green — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Bowling Green?
Bowling Green, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Birmingham, AL's $1,190, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Birmingham than in Bowling Green?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $33,000 in Bowling Green.
Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Bowling Green?
Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).