Is it cheaper to live in Bowling Green or Missoula?

Bowling Green, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Missoula, MT's $1,100, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Missoula.

Which has lower taxes, Bowling Green or Missoula?

Bowling Green is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Missoula under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax).

Bowling Green vs Missoula Cost of Living 2026

Bowling Green

Kentucky

$1,020/mo est.

Missoula

Montana

$1,100/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 $1,100 in Missoula, MT. Overall, Bowling Green, KY is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Missoula, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $48,419 in Bowling Green, KY and $65,329 in Missoula, MT — about 26% higher in Missoula, MT. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Bowling Green, KY

Missoula, MT

Rent

Studio

$878

$755

+14% in Bowling Green, KY

1 Bedroom

$833

$953

+14% in Missoula, MT

2 Bedroom

$960

$1,176

+23% in Missoula, MT

3 Bedroom

$1,214

$1,676

+38% in Missoula, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$232,100

$427,400

+84% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$48,419

$65,329

+35% in Missoula, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$45,040

$47,830

+6% in Missoula, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

27.9 yr

34.3 yr

+6.4 yr in Missoula, MT

Homeownership

37.3%

47.8%

+10.5 pp in Missoula, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.0%

51.7%

+19.7 pp in Missoula, MT

Avg Commute

18.8 min

16.6 min

+2.2 min in Bowling Green, KY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

231

601.9

+161% in Missoula, MT

Property Crime

2,984.4

3,685.2

+23% in Missoula, MT

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

45.9°F

+12.1°F in Bowling Green, KY

Annual Precipitation

49.9 in

14.1 in

+35.8 in in Bowling Green, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$4.27/gal

+11% in Missoula, MT

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.3

15.1

+6% in Missoula, MT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$33.20

$10.12

+70% in Bowling Green, KY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Missoula, MT

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Missoula, MT

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Bowling Green, KY

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Missoula, MT

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Missoula, MT

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Missoula, MT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (KY / MT)

None

+6.0 pp in KY

Income Tax (top rate)

3.50%

5.65%

+2.2 pp in MT

Bowling Green vs Missoula — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bowling Green or Missoula?: Bowling Green, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Missoula, MT's $1,100, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bowling Green than in Missoula?: 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 Missoula.
Which has lower taxes, Bowling Green or Missoula?: Bowling Green is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Missoula under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% 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).