CostIndexUSA

Bowling Green, KY vs Cleveland, OH Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableKY
Bowling Green
90.2
overall index
$1,250/mo rent
OH
Cleveland
93.9
overall index
$1,400/mo rent

Bowling Green is slightly cheaper than Cleveland — 4.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bowling Green, you would need $83,300 in Cleveland. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+25.2%
Bowling Green
63.4
Cleveland
79.4
🛒 Groceries2.7%
Bowling Green
96.2
Cleveland
93.6
🚗 Transportation+2.2%
Bowling Green
101.7
Cleveland
103.9
🏥 Healthcare+2.2%
Bowling Green
92
Cleveland
94
Utilities+27.7%
Bowling Green
75.2
Cleveland
96

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Cleveland, OH
$83,300
$3,300 more needed in Cleveland

Formula: salary × (93.9 ÷ 90.2) = salary × 1.0410. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Bowling Green, KY

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

Cleveland, OH

Median Home Price
$236,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
79.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.0×

Cleveland has 25.2% higher housing costs compared to Bowling Green.

Income & Job Market

Bowling Green, KY

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

Cleveland, OH

Median Household Income
$67,600
Per Capita Income
$38,500
Unemployment Rate
4.8%
Population
372,624
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingFinanceTechnologyEducation

Affordability at a Glance

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

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

75% of income left after rent (median)

Cleveland, OH
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.