Living Cost Compare
Bowling Green

Kentucky

$1,020/mo est.

vs
Warwick

Rhode Island

$1,390/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 $1,390 in Warwick, RI. Overall, Bowling Green, KY is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Warwick, RI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $48,419 in Bowling Green, KY and $87,536 in Warwick, RI — about 45% higher in Warwick, RI. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$878
$923
+5% in Warwick, RI
1 Bedroom
$833
$1,085
+30% in Warwick, RI
2 Bedroom
$960
$1,629
+70% in Warwick, RI
3 Bedroom
$1,214
$1,569
+29% in Warwick, RI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$232,100
$322,000
+39% in Warwick, RI

Income

Median Household Income
$48,419
$87,536
+81% in Warwick, RI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,040
$53,680
+19% in Warwick, RI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
27.9 yr
44.6 yr
+16.7 yr in Warwick, RI
Homeownership
37.3%
73.4%
+36.1 pp in Warwick, RI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.0%
33.2%
+1.2 pp in Warwick, RI
Avg Commute
18.8 min
25.0 min
+6.2 min in Warwick, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
231
79.5
+66% in Bowling Green, KY
Property Crime
2,984.4
1,149.5
+61% 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
51.6°F
+6.4°F in Bowling Green, KY
Annual Precipitation
49.9 in
47.2 in
+2.7 in in Bowling Green, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Warwick, RI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.3
29.2
+105% in Warwick, RI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$33.20
$25.75
+22% in Bowling Green, KY

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (KY / RI)
6%
7%
+1.0 pp in RI
Income Tax (top rate)
3.50%
5.99%
+2.5 pp in RI

Bowling Green vs Warwick — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bowling Green or Warwick?
Bowling Green, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Warwick, RI's $1,390, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bowling Green than in Warwick?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Bowling Green versus $43,000 in Warwick.
Which has lower taxes, Bowling Green or Warwick?
Bowling Green is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Warwick under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% 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).