Living Cost Compare
Bowling Green

Kentucky

$1,020/mo est.

vs
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,470/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 $1,470 in Colorado Springs, CO. Overall, Bowling Green, KY is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Colorado Springs, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $48,419 in Bowling Green, KY and $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO — about 42% higher in Colorado Springs, CO. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax.

Bowling Green, KY
Colorado Springs, CO

Rent

Studio
$878
$998
+14% in Colorado Springs, CO
1 Bedroom
$833
$1,305
+57% in Colorado Springs, CO
2 Bedroom
$960
$1,504
+57% in Colorado Springs, CO
3 Bedroom
$1,214
$1,881
+55% in Colorado Springs, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$232,100
$420,700
+81% in Colorado Springs, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$48,419
$83,198
+72% in Colorado Springs, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,040
$52,710
+17% in Colorado Springs, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
27.9 yr
35.6 yr
+7.7 yr in Colorado Springs, CO
Homeownership
37.3%
61.3%
+24.0 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.0%
41.9%
+9.9 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Avg Commute
18.8 min
22.8 min
+4.0 min in Colorado Springs, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
231
722.1
+213% in Colorado Springs, CO
Property Crime
2,984.4
3,488.7
+17% in Colorado Springs, CO

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
49.0°F
+9.0°F in Bowling Green, KY
Annual Precipitation
49.9 in
16.5 in
+33.4 in in Bowling Green, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$4.25/gal
+8% in Colorado Springs, CO

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Colorado.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs Mountain Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.0
16.2
+8% in Colorado Springs, CO
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.48
$11.92
+60% in Bowling Green, KY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in Colorado Springs, CO
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Bowling Green, KY
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in Colorado Springs, CO
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (KY / CO)
6%
2.9%
+3.1 pp in KY
Income Tax (top rate)
3.50%
4.40%
+0.9 pp in CO

Bowling Green vs Colorado Springs — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bowling Green or Colorado Springs?
Bowling Green, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Colorado Springs, CO's $1,470, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bowling Green than in Colorado Springs?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Bowling Green versus $52,000 in Colorado Springs.
Which has lower taxes, Bowling Green or Colorado Springs?
Bowling Green is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Colorado Springs under Colorado's (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).