Living Cost Compare
Bowling Green

Kentucky

$1,020/mo est.

vs
Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Charleston, SC. Overall, Bowling Green, KY is roughly 37% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $48,419 in Bowling Green, KY and $90,038 in Charleston, SC — about 46% higher in Charleston, SC. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Bowling Green, KY
Charleston, SC

Rent

Studio
$878
$1,579
+80% in Charleston, SC
1 Bedroom
$833
$1,430
+72% in Charleston, SC
2 Bedroom
$960
$1,684
+75% in Charleston, SC
3 Bedroom
$1,214
$2,076
+71% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$232,100
$469,100
+102% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$48,419
$90,038
+86% in Charleston, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,040
$49,150
+9% in Charleston, SC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
27.9 yr
36.1 yr
+8.2 yr in Charleston, SC
Homeownership
37.3%
55.6%
+18.3 pp in Charleston, SC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.0%
57.7%
+25.7 pp in Charleston, SC
Avg Commute
18.8 min
23.8 min
+5.0 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
231
358.8
+55% in Charleston, SC
Property Crime
2,984.4
2,035.1
+32% 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
66.7°F
+8.7°F in Charleston, SC
Annual Precipitation
49.9 in
44.4 in
+5.5 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
16.2
+8% in Charleston, SC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.48
$27.35
+7% 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 (KY / SC)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
3.50%
6.00%
+2.5 pp in SC

Bowling Green vs Charleston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bowling Green or Charleston?
Bowling Green, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bowling Green than in Charleston?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Bowling Green versus $57,000 in Charleston.
Which has lower taxes, Bowling Green or Charleston?
Bowling Green is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Charleston under South Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% 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).