Is it cheaper to live in Bowling Green or Cambridge?

Bowling Green, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 64% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Bowling Green than in Cambridge?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Bowling Green versus $100,000 in Cambridge.

Which has lower taxes, Bowling Green or Cambridge?

Bowling Green is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Cambridge under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Bowling Green vs Cambridge Cost of Living 2026

Bowling Green

Kentucky

$1,020/mo est.

Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/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 $2,810 in Cambridge, MA. Overall, Bowling Green, KY is roughly 64% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $48,419 in Bowling Green, KY and $126,469 in Cambridge, MA — about 62% higher in Cambridge, MA. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Bowling Green, KY

Cambridge, MA

Rent

Studio

$878

$2,236

+155% in Cambridge, MA

1 Bedroom

$833

$2,496

+200% in Cambridge, MA

2 Bedroom

$960

$2,980

+210% in Cambridge, MA

3 Bedroom

$1,214

$3,325

+174% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$232,100

$1,040,500

+348% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$48,419

$126,469

+161% in Cambridge, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$45,040

$66,620

+48% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

27.9 yr

30.5 yr

+2.6 yr in Cambridge, MA

Homeownership

37.3%

33.7%

+3.6 pp in Bowling Green, KY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.0%

80.2%

+48.2 pp in Cambridge, MA

Avg Commute

18.8 min

26.1 min

+7.3 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

231

436.7

+89% in Cambridge, MA

Property Crime

2,984.4

2,657.6

+11% 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

51.5°F

+6.5°F in Bowling Green, KY

Annual Precipitation

49.9 in

43.8 in

+6.1 in in Bowling Green, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$4.07/gal

+6% in Cambridge, MA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.3

29.6

+108% in Cambridge, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$33.20

$30.66

+8% in Bowling Green, KY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Cambridge, MA

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Cambridge, MA

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Bowling Green, KY

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Cambridge, MA

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Cambridge, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Cambridge, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (KY / MA)

6.25%

+0.3 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

3.50%

9.00%

+5.5 pp in MA

Bowling Green vs Cambridge — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bowling Green or Cambridge?: Bowling Green, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 64% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bowling Green than in Cambridge?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Bowling Green versus $100,000 in Cambridge.
Which has lower taxes, Bowling Green or Cambridge?: Bowling Green is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Cambridge under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).