Living Cost Compare
Bowling Green

Kentucky

$1,020/mo est.

vs
Omaha

Nebraska

$1,130/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 $1,130 in Omaha, NE. Overall, Bowling Green, KY is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Omaha, NE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $48,419 in Bowling Green, KY and $72,708 in Omaha, NE — about 33% higher in Omaha, NE. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Bowling Green, KY
Omaha, NE

Rent

Studio
$878
$908
+3% in Omaha, NE
1 Bedroom
$833
$984
+18% in Omaha, NE
2 Bedroom
$960
$1,193
+24% in Omaha, NE
3 Bedroom
$1,214
$1,437
+18% in Omaha, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$232,100
$230,100
+1% in Bowling Green, KY

Income

Median Household Income
$48,419
$72,708
+50% in Omaha, NE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,040
$49,660
+10% in Omaha, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
27.9 yr
35.3 yr
+7.4 yr in Omaha, NE
Homeownership
37.3%
57.7%
+20.4 pp in Omaha, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.0%
40.3%
+8.3 pp in Omaha, NE
Avg Commute
18.8 min
19.6 min
+0.8 min in Omaha, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
231
359
+55% in Omaha, NE
Property Crime
2,984.4
3,153.5
+6% in Omaha, NE

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
51.1°F
+6.9°F in Bowling Green, KY
Annual Precipitation
49.9 in
30.6 in
+19.3 in in Bowling Green, KY

Gas

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

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.0
13.6
+9% in Bowling Green, KY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.48
$15.53
+47% in Bowling Green, KY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Omaha, NE
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Bowling Green, KY
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Omaha, NE
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Omaha, NE
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Omaha, NE
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 / NE)
6%
5.5%
+0.5 pp in KY
Income Tax (top rate)
3.50%
4.55%
+1.0 pp in NE

Bowling Green vs Omaha — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bowling Green or Omaha?
Bowling Green, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Omaha, NE's $1,130, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bowling Green than in Omaha?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Bowling Green versus $39,000 in Omaha.
Which has lower taxes, Bowling Green or Omaha?
Bowling Green is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Omaha under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% 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).