Is it cheaper to live in Bowling Green or Fairbanks?

Bowling Green, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Fairbanks, AK's $1,350, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Bowling Green versus $43,000 in Fairbanks.

Which has lower taxes, Bowling Green or Fairbanks?

Bowling Green is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Fairbanks under Alaska's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Bowling Green vs Fairbanks Cost of Living 2026

Bowling Green

Kentucky

$1,020/mo est.

Fairbanks

Alaska

$1,350/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 $1,350 in Fairbanks, AK. Overall, Bowling Green, KY is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fairbanks, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $48,419 in Bowling Green, KY and $72,077 in Fairbanks, AK — about 33% higher in Fairbanks, AK. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Bowling Green, KY

Fairbanks, AK

Rent

Studio

$878

$883

+1% in Fairbanks, AK

1 Bedroom

$833

$1,076

+29% in Fairbanks, AK

2 Bedroom

$960

$1,428

+49% in Fairbanks, AK

3 Bedroom

$1,214

$2,019

+66% in Fairbanks, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$232,100

$255,700

+10% in Fairbanks, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$48,419

$72,077

+49% in Fairbanks, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$45,040

$61,810

+37% in Fairbanks, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

27.9 yr

28.6 yr

+0.7 yr in Fairbanks, AK

Homeownership

37.3%

40.5%

+3.2 pp in Fairbanks, AK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.0%

26.5%

+5.5 pp in Bowling Green, KY

Avg Commute

18.8 min

14.1 min

+4.7 min in Bowling Green, KY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

231

726.1

+214% in Fairbanks, AK

Property Crime

2,984.4

3,504.2

+17% in Fairbanks, AK

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

27.7°F

+30.3°F in Bowling Green, KY

Annual Precipitation

49.9 in

10.8 in

+39.1 in in Bowling Green, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$5.21/gal

+35% in Fairbanks, AK

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.3

28.2

+98% in Fairbanks, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$33.20

$17.35

+48% in Bowling Green, KY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Fairbanks, AK

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Fairbanks, AK

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Bowling Green, KY

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Fairbanks, AK

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Fairbanks, AK

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Fairbanks, AK

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (KY / AK)

None

+6.0 pp in KY

Income Tax (top rate)

3.50%

None

+3.5 pp in KY

Bowling Green vs Fairbanks — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bowling Green or Fairbanks?: Bowling Green, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Fairbanks, AK's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bowling Green than in Fairbanks?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Bowling Green versus $43,000 in Fairbanks.
Which has lower taxes, Bowling Green or Fairbanks?: Bowling Green is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Fairbanks under Alaska's (no state income tax and no 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).