Living Cost Compare
Bowling Green

Kentucky

$1,020/mo est.

vs
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,410/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 $1,410 in Philadelphia, PA. Overall, Bowling Green, KY is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $48,419 in Bowling Green, KY and $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA — about 20% higher in Philadelphia, PA. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Bowling Green, KY
Philadelphia, PA

Rent

Studio
$878
$1,126
+28% in Philadelphia, PA
1 Bedroom
$833
$1,189
+43% in Philadelphia, PA
2 Bedroom
$960
$1,394
+45% in Philadelphia, PA
3 Bedroom
$1,214
$1,406
+16% in Philadelphia, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$232,100
$232,400
+0% in Philadelphia, PA

Income

Median Household Income
$48,419
$60,698
+25% in Philadelphia, PA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,040
$54,310
+21% in Philadelphia, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
27.9 yr
35.1 yr
+7.2 yr in Philadelphia, PA
Homeownership
37.3%
52.3%
+15.0 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.0%
34.6%
+2.6 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Avg Commute
18.8 min
32.0 min
+13.2 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
231
917.1
+297% in Philadelphia, PA
Property Crime
2,984.4
4,615.3
+55% in Philadelphia, PA

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
57.1°F
+0.9°F in Bowling Green, KY
Annual Precipitation
49.9 in
48.5 in
+1.4 in in Bowling Green, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.86/gal
+2% in Bowling Green, KY

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.0
21.6
+44% in Philadelphia, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.48
$19.17
+35% in Bowling Green, KY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Philadelphia, PA
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in Philadelphia, PA
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Bowling Green, KY
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in Philadelphia, PA
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in Philadelphia, PA
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Philadelphia, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (KY / PA)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
3.50%
3.07%
+0.4 pp in KY

Bowling Green vs Philadelphia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bowling Green or Philadelphia?
Bowling Green, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bowling Green than in Philadelphia?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Bowling Green versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.
Which has lower taxes, Bowling Green or Philadelphia?
Bowling Green is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% 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).