Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Bowling Green, KY Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Bowling Green, KY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,706 in Austin, TX versus $2,088 in Bowling Green, KY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,169 in Austin, TX versus $3,089 in Bowling Green, KY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,633 in Austin, TX versus $4,090 in Bowling Green, KY.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 30% more expensive than in Bowling Green, KY, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Bowling Green, KY 56% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.70 $19.70

$11.39 $11.39

72.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$55.5 $55.5

37.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 $9.86

$10.16 $10.16

-2.95%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.03 $5.03

8.95%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.28 $2.28

16.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.74 $1.74

20.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$4.05 $4.05

50.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.15 $8.15

$6.03 $6.03

35.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.69 $0.69

59.42%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 $3.39

$2.25 $2.25

50.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$2.27 $2.27

48.90%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$2.97 $2.97

47.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.10 $12.10

$9.99 $9.99

21.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 $10.84

$8.62 $8.62

25.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.68 $14.68

$14.72 $14.72

-0.27%

Apples (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$4.73 $4.73

4.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.25 $1.25

20.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$2.11 $2.11

108.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$4.48 $4.48

-8.48%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.29 $3.29

-14.59%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$3.23 $3.23

-11.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.79 $1.79

21.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.99 $8.99

$8.09 $8.09

11.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$13.14 $13.14

14.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$1.71 $1.71

36.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$1.78 $1.78

92.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$3.45 $3.45

-55.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.15 $44.15

$40.33 $40.33

9.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.04 $5.04

-12.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.26 $1.26

45.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.65 $34.65

$24.65 $24.65

40.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.79 $0.79

-1.27%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.0K $26.0K

$22.9K $22.9K

13.11%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.9K $25.9K

$25.8K $25.8K

0.48%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$175 $175

$161 $161

8.22%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$59.7 $59.7

$43.22 $43.22

38.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$65.9 $65.9

-0.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 $61.3

$30.12 $30.12

103.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.89 $9.89

$11.99 $11.99

-17.51%

Cinema Ticket

$14.76 $14.76

$15.14 $15.14

-2.51%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,372 $1,372

$1,185 $1,185

15.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$25.3K $25.3K

-12.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 $56.5

$54.1 $54.1

4.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.29 $45.29

$35.22 $35.22

28.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 $85.0

$74.7 $74.7

13.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$75.2 $75.2

57.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,201 $2,201

$1,188 $1,188

85.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,403 $1,403

$1,002 $1,002

40.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,815 $3,815

$1,804 $1,804

111.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 $2,680

$1,878 $1,878

42.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,133 $7,133

$1,984 $1,984

259.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,078 $3,078

$1,962 $1,962

56.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,110 $5,110

$2,931 $2,931

74.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.53

-1.23%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Austin, TX: July 12, 2026

Last update for Bowling Green, KY: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,201 in Austin, TX and $1,188 in Bowling Green, KY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 74% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $76.0 in Austin, TX vs $55.0 in Bowling Green, KY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $314 per month, with Bowling Green, KY cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Austin, TX vs Bowling Green, KY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bowling Green, KY wins on cost – living expenses run 30% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bowling Green, KY the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 74% higher in Austin, TX, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,201 in Austin, TX versus $1,188 in Bowling Green, KY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,706 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,088 in Bowling Green, KY – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bowling Green, KY runs roughly 9% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,088 in Bowling Green, KY versus $2,706 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bowling Green, KY but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Bowling Green, KY the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Bowling Green, KY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.