CostIndexUSA

Albuquerque, NM vs Bowling Green, KY Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NM
Albuquerque
95.5
overall index
$1,525/mo rent
More AffordableKY
Bowling Green
90.2
overall index
$1,250/mo rent

Bowling Green is moderately cheaper than Albuquerque — 5.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Albuquerque, you would need $75,600 in Bowling Green. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing28.9%
Albuquerque
89.2
Bowling Green
63.4
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Albuquerque
96.1
Bowling Green
96.2
🚗 Transportation1.7%
Albuquerque
103.5
Bowling Green
101.7
🏥 Healthcare1.7%
Albuquerque
93.6
Bowling Green
92
Utilities3.5%
Albuquerque
77.9
Bowling Green
75.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Albuquerque to see what you'd need to earn in Bowling Green to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Bowling Green, KY
$75,600
$4,400 less needed in Bowling Green

Formula: salary × (90.2 ÷ 95.5) = salary × 0.9445. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Albuquerque, NM

Median Home Price
$340,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,525
Housing Index
89.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.6×

Bowling Green, KY

Median Home Price
$259,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,250
Housing Index
63.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.3×

Albuquerque has 28.9% lower housing costs compared to Bowling Green.

Income & Job Market

Albuquerque, NM

Median Household Income
$67,600
Per Capita Income
$38,500
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
564,559
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareEducationMilitaryTechnology

Bowling Green, KY

Median Household Income
$60,600
Per Capita Income
$34,500
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
72,294
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareEducationRetailAutomotive

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Albuquerque, NM
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Bowling Green, KY
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.