Living Cost Compare
Bowling Green

Kentucky

$1,020/mo est.

vs
Fort Wayne

Indiana

$960/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 $960 in Fort Wayne, IN. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bowling Green, KY, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $48,419 in Bowling Green, KY and $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN — about 20% higher in Fort Wayne, IN. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax.

Bowling Green, KY
Fort Wayne, IN

Rent

Studio
$878
$798
+9% in Bowling Green, KY
1 Bedroom
$833
$782
+6% in Bowling Green, KY
2 Bedroom
$960
$984
+3% in Fort Wayne, IN
3 Bedroom
$1,214
$1,100
+9% in Bowling Green, KY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$232,100
$169,700
+27% in Bowling Green, KY

Income

Median Household Income
$48,419
$60,293
+25% in Fort Wayne, IN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,040
$47,700
+6% in Fort Wayne, IN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
27.9 yr
35.0 yr
+7.1 yr in Fort Wayne, IN
Homeownership
37.3%
62.2%
+24.9 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.0%
28.5%
+3.5 pp in Bowling Green, KY
Avg Commute
18.8 min
21.4 min
+2.6 min in Fort Wayne, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
231
308.9
+34% in Fort Wayne, IN
Property Crime
2,984.4
2,245.4
+25% 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
50.5°F
+7.5°F in Bowling Green, KY
Annual Precipitation
49.9 in
38.3 in
+11.5 in in Bowling Green, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.0
18.1
+21% in Fort Wayne, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.48
$13.70
+54% in Bowling Green, KY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Fort Wayne, IN
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Bowling Green, KY
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Fort Wayne, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Fort Wayne, IN
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Fort Wayne, IN
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (KY / IN)
6%
7%
+1.0 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
3.50%
2.95%
+0.5 pp in KY

Bowling Green vs Fort Wayne — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bowling Green or Fort Wayne?
Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Bowling Green, KY's $1,020, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bowling Green than in Fort Wayne?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Bowling Green versus $31,000 in Fort Wayne.
Which has lower taxes, Bowling Green or Fort Wayne?
Bowling Green is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Fort Wayne under Indiana's (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% 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).