Living Cost Compare
Bowling Green

Kentucky

$1,020/mo est.

vs
Bridgeport

Connecticut

$1,460/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,020 in Bowling Green, KY versus $1,460 in Bridgeport, CT. Overall, Bowling Green, KY is roughly 30% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bridgeport, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $48,419 in Bowling Green, KY and $56,584 in Bridgeport, CT — about 14% higher in Bridgeport, CT. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Bowling Green, KY
Bridgeport, CT

Rent

Studio
$878
$950
+8% in Bridgeport, CT
1 Bedroom
$833
$1,181
+42% in Bridgeport, CT
2 Bedroom
$960
$1,508
+57% in Bridgeport, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,214
$1,639
+35% in Bridgeport, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$232,100
$252,400
+9% in Bridgeport, CT

Income

Median Household Income
$48,419
$56,584
+17% in Bridgeport, CT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,040
$61,470
+36% in Bridgeport, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
27.9 yr
36.4 yr
+8.5 yr in Bridgeport, CT
Homeownership
37.3%
43.3%
+6.0 pp in Bridgeport, CT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.0%
23.1%
+8.9 pp in Bowling Green, KY
Avg Commute
18.8 min
29.9 min
+11.1 min in Bridgeport, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
231
401.7
+74% in Bridgeport, CT
Property Crime
2,984.4
1,478.4
+50% 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
58.0°F
52.5°F
+5.5°F in Bowling Green, KY
Annual Precipitation
49.9 in
42.7 in
+7.1 in in Bowling Green, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.86/gal
+2% in Bowling Green, KY

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.0
27.4
+83% in Bridgeport, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.48
$23.33
+21% in Bowling Green, KY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Bridgeport, CT
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in Bridgeport, CT
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Bowling Green, KY
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in Bridgeport, CT
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in Bridgeport, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Bridgeport, CT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (KY / CT)
6%
6.35%
+0.3 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
3.50%
6.99%
+3.5 pp in CT

Bowling Green vs Bridgeport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bowling Green or Bridgeport?
Bowling Green, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Bridgeport, CT's $1,460, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bowling Green than in Bridgeport?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Bowling Green versus $47,000 in Bridgeport.
Which has lower taxes, Bowling Green or Bridgeport?
Bowling Green is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Bridgeport under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).