Living Cost Compare
Bowling Green

Kentucky

$1,020/mo est.

vs
Shreveport

Louisiana

$1,000/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 $1,000 in Shreveport, LA. Overall, Shreveport, LA is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bowling Green, KY, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $48,419 in Bowling Green, KY and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Bowling Green, KY
Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio
$878
$756
+14% in Bowling Green, KY
1 Bedroom
$833
$843
+1% in Shreveport, LA
2 Bedroom
$960
$978
+2% in Shreveport, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,214
$1,136
+6% in Bowling Green, KY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$232,100
$178,100
+23% in Bowling Green, KY

Income

Median Household Income
$48,419
$48,465
+0% in Shreveport, LA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,040
$44,820
+0% in Bowling Green, KY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
27.9 yr
37.5 yr
+9.6 yr in Shreveport, LA
Homeownership
37.3%
53.8%
+16.5 pp in Shreveport, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.0%
27.5%
+4.5 pp in Bowling Green, KY
Avg Commute
18.8 min
19.0 min
+0.2 min in Shreveport, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
231
1,235.4
+435% in Shreveport, LA
Property Crime
2,984.4
4,048.2
+36% in Shreveport, LA

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
65.5°F
+7.5°F in Shreveport, LA
Annual Precipitation
49.9 in
51.0 in
+1.1 in in Shreveport, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in Bowling Green, KY

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.0
14.2
+6% in Bowling Green, KY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.48
$16.62
+44% 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 / LA)
6%
5%
+1.0 pp in KY
Income Tax (top rate)
3.50%
3.00%
+0.5 pp in KY

Bowling Green vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bowling Green or Shreveport?
Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Bowling Green, KY's $1,020, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bowling Green than in Shreveport?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Bowling Green versus $34,000 in Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, Bowling Green or Shreveport?
Bowling Green is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Shreveport under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 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).