CostIndexUSA

Bowling Green, KY vs Longview, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

KY
Bowling Green
90.2
overall index
$1,250/mo rent
More AffordableTX
Longview
89.5
overall index
$1,150/mo rent

Longview is slightly cheaper than Bowling Green — 0.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bowling Green, you would need $79,400 in Longview. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+5.2%
Bowling Green
63.4
Longview
66.7
🛒 Groceries2.5%
Bowling Green
96.2
Longview
93.8
🚗 Transportation0.6%
Bowling Green
101.7
Longview
101.1
🏥 Healthcare0.7%
Bowling Green
92
Longview
91.4
Utilities+11.0%
Bowling Green
75.2
Longview
83.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Longview, TX
$79,400
$600 less needed in Longview

Formula: salary × (89.5 ÷ 90.2) = salary × 0.9922. 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×

Longview, TX

Median Home Price
$209,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,150
Housing Index
66.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.1×

Longview has 5.2% 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

Longview, TX

Median Household Income
$64,000
Per Capita Income
$36,500
Unemployment Rate
4.1%
Population
82,671
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareManufacturingRetailAgriculture

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)

Longview, TX
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.