Is it cheaper to live in Bowling Green or Portland?

Bowling Green, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Portland, OR's $1,620, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Bowling Green versus $58,000 in Portland.

Which has lower taxes, Bowling Green or Portland?

Bowling Green is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Portland under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Bowling Green vs Portland Cost of Living 2026

Bowling Green

Kentucky

$1,020/mo est.

Portland

Oregon

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Portland, OR. Overall, Bowling Green, KY is roughly 37% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $48,419 in Bowling Green, KY and $88,792 in Portland, OR — about 45% higher in Portland, OR. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Bowling Green, KY

Portland, OR

Rent

Studio

$878

$1,294

+47% in Portland, OR

1 Bedroom

$833

$1,440

+73% in Portland, OR

2 Bedroom

$960

$1,741

+81% in Portland, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,214

$2,053

+69% in Portland, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$232,100

$557,600

+140% in Portland, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$48,419

$88,792

+83% in Portland, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$45,040

$60,690

+35% in Portland, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

27.9 yr

38.6 yr

+10.7 yr in Portland, OR

Homeownership

37.3%

52.8%

+15.5 pp in Portland, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.0%

53.5%

+21.5 pp in Portland, OR

Avg Commute

18.8 min

24.6 min

+5.8 min in Portland, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

231

732.3

+217% in Portland, OR

Property Crime

2,984.4

5,609.4

+88% in Portland, OR

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

54.5°F

+3.5°F in Bowling Green, KY

Annual Precipitation

49.9 in

42.9 in

+7.0 in in Bowling Green, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.09/gal

+29% in Portland, OR

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.80

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.0

16.3

+9% in Portland, OR

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.48

$20.59

+30% in Bowling Green, KY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Portland, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Portland, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Bowling Green, KY

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Portland, OR

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Portland, OR

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Portland, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (KY / OR)

None

+6.0 pp in KY

Income Tax (top rate)

3.50%

9.90%

+6.4 pp in OR

Bowling Green vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bowling Green or Portland?: Bowling Green, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Portland, OR's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bowling Green than in Portland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Bowling Green versus $58,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Bowling Green or Portland?: Bowling Green is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Portland under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% 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).