Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Bowling Green, KY: $2,079 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $7,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

100

Cost of Living Index in Bowling Green, KY
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Bowling Green, KY Living Index
130

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index

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Bowling Green, KY

🇺🇸 United States

$2,079

/mo nomad

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,663

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bowling Green, KY and in Austin, TX

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bowling Green, KY and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,079 in Bowling Green, KY versus $2,663 in Austin, TX.

Bowling Green, KY $2,079
Austin, TX $2,663

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,983 in Bowling Green, KY versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

Bowling Green, KY $2,983
Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,887 in Bowling Green, KY versus $5,603 in Austin, TX.

Bowling Green, KY $3,887
Austin, TX $5,603

Living in Bowling Green, KY costs roughly 22% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bowling Green, KY 54% above, Austin, TX 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.79 $12.79

$20.77 $20.77

-38.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.1 $55.1

$84.6 $84.6

-34.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.23 $9.23

$12.32 $12.32

-25.08%

Cappuccino

$4.88 $4.88

$5.63 $5.63

-13.32%

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

$2.49 $2.49

$3.72 $3.72

-33.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.50 $2.50

-17.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.02 $4.02

$8.05 $8.05

-50.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.90 $4.90

$9.01 $9.01

-45.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 $0.79

$1.12 $1.12

-29.46%

White Bread (500g)

$2.30 $2.30

$3.75 $3.75

-38.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.28 $2.28

$3.26 $3.26

-30.06%

Eggs

$2.72 $2.72

$4.17 $4.17

-34.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.17 $10.17

$12.90 $12.90

-21.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.16 $10.16

$14.16 $14.16

-28.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.64 $12.64

$16.22 $16.22

-22.07%

Apples (1kg)

$4.75 $4.75

$4.33 $4.33

9.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.46 $1.46

-21.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.63 $2.63

$4.51 $4.51

-41.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.52 $3.52

$4.34 $4.34

-18.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.73 $1.73

$2.58 $2.58

-32.95%

Onion (1kg)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.35 $2.35

4.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.79 $1.79

$1.78 $1.78

0.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 $1.29

$2.22 $2.22

-41.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.65 $8.65

$9.88 $9.88

-12.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.12 $13.12

$15.08 $15.08

-13.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.92 $2.92

-42.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 $1.46

$3.46 $3.46

-57.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.57 $3.57

$1.49 $1.49

139.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.65 $39.65

$41.72 $41.72

-4.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.52 $7.52

$2.73 $2.73

175.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.66 $1.66

-6.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.40 $25.40

$35.30 $35.30

-28.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$0.95 $0.95

-3.16%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$36.0K $36.0K

-0.69%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$27.1K $27.1K

-4.81%

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

$148 $148

$229 $229

-35.43%

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

$45.79 $45.79

$59.4 $59.4

-22.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.4 $69.4

$69.9 $69.9

-0.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.75 $29.75

$57.2 $57.2

-48.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.94 $11.94

$16.33 $16.33

-26.88%

Cinema Ticket

$15.14 $15.14

$14.28 $14.28

6.02%

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

$2,276 $2,276

$1,506 $1,506

51.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.6K $24.6K

$21.5K $21.5K

14.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.2 $50.2

$52.8 $52.8

-4.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.83 $31.83

$43.82 $43.82

-27.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.1 $99.1

$84.8 $84.8

16.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$152 $152

$103 $103

47.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,151 $1,151

$1,907 $1,907

-39.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,001 $1,001

$1,274 $1,274

-21.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,667 $1,667

$3,664 $3,664

-54.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,532 $1,532

$2,538 $2,538

-39.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,009 $2,009

$7,614 $7,614

-73.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,012 $2,012

$3,157 $3,157

-36.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,941 $2,941

$5,121 $5,121

-42.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.66

6.79

-1.91%

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

Last update for Bowling Green, KY: October 10, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Bowling Green, KY

$1K 48.1%

Austin, TX

$1.3K 47.8% 27.3% $273

Groceries & Markets

Bowling Green, KY

$299 14.4%

Austin, TX

$405 15.2% 35.2% $105

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Bowling Green, KY

$263 12.7%

Austin, TX

$358 13.5% 36.2% $95

Eating Out

Bowling Green, KY

$237 11.4%

Austin, TX

$354 13.3% 49.5% $117

Clothing & Footwear

Bowling Green, KY

$150 7.2%

Austin, TX

$128 4.8% 14.6% $22

Getting Around

Bowling Green, KY

$69 3.3%

Austin, TX

$59 2.2% 15.3% $11

Sport & Entertainment

Bowling Green, KY

$60 2.9%

Austin, TX

$86 3.2% 42.9% $26

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,151 in Bowling Green, KY and $1,907 in Austin, TX. 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: $55.0 in Bowling Green, KY vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $299 vs $405 per month, with Bowling Green, KY cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Bowling Green, KY

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🕒 Local time

13:32 1:32 PM

Same time as Bowling Green, KY

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

53,176

974,447

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Bowling Green, KY Austin, TX 1,280 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Bowling Green, KY
Austin, TX

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

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

Bowling Green, KY wins on cost – living expenses run 28% 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.

On paper, salaries run 74% lower in Austin, TX. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,151 in Bowling Green, KY versus $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,079 per month in Bowling Green, KY versus $2,663 in Austin, TX – a 28% 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 5% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,079 in Bowling Green, KY versus $2,663 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 28% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.