Is it cheaper to live in Bowling Green or Memphis?

Bowling Green, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Memphis, TN's $1,110, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Bowling Green versus $38,000 in Memphis.

Which has lower taxes, Bowling Green or Memphis?

Bowling Green is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Memphis under Tennessee's (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax).

Bowling Green vs Memphis Cost of Living 2026

Bowling Green

Kentucky

$1,020/mo est.

Memphis

Tennessee

$1,110/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 $1,110 in Memphis, TN. Overall, Bowling Green, KY is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Memphis, TN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $48,419 in Bowling Green, KY and $51,211 in Memphis, TN — about 5% higher in Memphis, TN. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax.

Bowling Green, KY

Memphis, TN

Rent

Studio

$878

$877

+0% in Bowling Green, KY

1 Bedroom

$833

$948

+14% in Memphis, TN

2 Bedroom

$960

$1,073

+12% in Memphis, TN

3 Bedroom

$1,214

$1,281

+6% in Memphis, TN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$232,100

$157,100

+32% in Bowling Green, KY

Income

Median Household Income

$48,419

$51,211

+6% in Memphis, TN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$45,040

$46,890

+4% in Memphis, TN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

27.9 yr

34.3 yr

+6.4 yr in Memphis, TN

Homeownership

37.3%

46.0%

+8.7 pp in Memphis, TN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.0%

28.2%

+3.8 pp in Bowling Green, KY

Avg Commute

18.8 min

21.3 min

+2.5 min in Memphis, TN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

231

2,507.6

+986% in Memphis, TN

Property Crime

2,984.4

6,966.3

+133% in Memphis, TN

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

63.1°F

+5.1°F in Memphis, TN

Annual Precipitation

49.9 in

53.7 in

+3.8 in in Memphis, TN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.0

14.5

+3% in Bowling Green, KY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.48

$16.83

+43% in Bowling Green, KY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.75

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (KY / TN)

+1.0 pp in TN

Income Tax (top rate)

3.50%

None

+3.5 pp in KY

Bowling Green vs Memphis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bowling Green or Memphis?: Bowling Green, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Memphis, TN's $1,110, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bowling Green than in Memphis?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Bowling Green versus $38,000 in Memphis.
Which has lower taxes, Bowling Green or Memphis?: Bowling Green is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Memphis under Tennessee's (no state income tax 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).