Living Cost Compare
Bowling Green

Kentucky

$1,020/mo est.

vs
Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,510/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 $1,510 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Bowling Green, KY is roughly 32% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $48,419 in Bowling Green, KY and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 41% higher in Raleigh, NC. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Bowling Green, KY
Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio
$878
$1,301
+48% in Raleigh, NC
1 Bedroom
$833
$1,323
+59% in Raleigh, NC
2 Bedroom
$960
$1,462
+52% in Raleigh, NC
3 Bedroom
$1,214
$1,715
+41% in Raleigh, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$232,100
$377,800
+63% in Raleigh, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$48,419
$82,424
+70% in Raleigh, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,040
$51,990
+15% in Raleigh, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
27.9 yr
34.7 yr
+6.8 yr in Raleigh, NC
Homeownership
37.3%
51.2%
+13.9 pp in Raleigh, NC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.0%
52.9%
+20.9 pp in Raleigh, NC
Avg Commute
18.8 min
23.4 min
+4.6 min in Raleigh, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
231
491.5
+113% in Raleigh, NC
Property Crime
2,984.4
2,838.4
+5% in Bowling Green, KY

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
60.6°F
+2.6°F in Raleigh, NC
Annual Precipitation
49.9 in
46.0 in
+3.9 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)
—
$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.0
15.1
+1% in Raleigh, NC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.48
$27.56
+7% in Bowling Green, KY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (KY / NC)
6%
4.75%
+1.3 pp in KY
Income Tax (top rate)
3.50%
3.99%
+0.5 pp in NC

Bowling Green vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bowling Green or Raleigh?
Bowling Green, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bowling Green than in Raleigh?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Bowling Green versus $53,000 in Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Bowling Green or Raleigh?
Bowling Green is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).