CostIndexUSA

Bowling Green, KY vs Macon, GA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

KY
Bowling Green
90.2
overall index
$1,250/mo rent
More AffordableGA
Macon
88.5
overall index
$1,200/mo rent

Macon is slightly cheaper than Bowling Green — 1.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bowling Green, you would need $78,500 in Macon. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing7.1%
Bowling Green
63.4
Macon
58.9
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Bowling Green
96.2
Macon
96.3
🚗 Transportation+1.9%
Bowling Green
101.7
Macon
103.6
🏥 Healthcare+1.8%
Bowling Green
92
Macon
93.7
Utilities+19.0%
Bowling Green
75.2
Macon
89.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Macon, GA
$78,500
$1,500 less needed in Macon

Formula: salary × (88.5 ÷ 90.2) = salary × 0.9812. 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×

Macon, GA

Median Home Price
$190,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,200
Housing Index
58.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.2×

Bowling Green has 7.1% lower housing costs compared to Macon.

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

Macon, GA

Median Household Income
$59,800
Per Capita Income
$34,100
Unemployment Rate
6.2%
Population
157,346
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingGovernmentLogisticsEducation

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)

Macon, GA
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.