Living Cost Compare
Bowling Green

Kentucky

$1,020/mo est.

vs
Los Angeles

California

$2,010/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 $2,010 in Los Angeles, CA. Overall, Bowling Green, KY is roughly 49% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Los Angeles, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $48,419 in Bowling Green, KY and $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA — about 40% higher in Los Angeles, CA. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Bowling Green, KY
Los Angeles, CA

Rent

Studio
$878
$1,468
+67% in Los Angeles, CA
1 Bedroom
$833
$1,688
+103% in Los Angeles, CA
2 Bedroom
$960
$2,148
+124% in Los Angeles, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,214
$2,489
+105% in Los Angeles, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$232,100
$879,500
+279% in Los Angeles, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$48,419
$80,366
+66% in Los Angeles, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,040
$55,850
+24% in Los Angeles, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
27.9 yr
36.9 yr
+9.0 yr in Los Angeles, CA
Homeownership
37.3%
36.3%
+1.0 pp in Bowling Green, KY
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.0%
37.8%
+5.8 pp in Los Angeles, CA
Avg Commute
18.8 min
31.1 min
+12.3 min in Los Angeles, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
231
730.3
+216% in Los Angeles, CA
Property Crime
2,984.4
1,501.4
+50% 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
67.0°F
+9.0°F in Los Angeles, CA
Annual Precipitation
49.9 in
21.2 in
+28.7 in in Bowling Green, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$5.40/gal
+37% in Los Angeles, CA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Los Angeles.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.0
33.3
+122% in Los Angeles, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.48
$20.72
+30% in Bowling Green, KY

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (KY / CA)
6%
7.25%
+1.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.50%
13.30%
+9.8 pp in CA

Bowling Green vs Los Angeles — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bowling Green or Los Angeles?
Bowling Green, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 49% below Los Angeles, CA's $2,010, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bowling Green than in Los Angeles?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Bowling Green versus $68,000 in Los Angeles.
Which has lower taxes, Bowling Green or Los Angeles?
Bowling Green is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Los Angeles under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).