CostIndexUSA

Bowling Green, KY vs Missoula, MT Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableKY
Bowling Green
90.2
overall index
$1,250/mo rent
MT
Missoula
96.4
overall index
$1,550/mo rent

Bowling Green is moderately cheaper than Missoula — 6.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bowling Green, you would need $85,500 in Missoula. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+49.7%
Bowling Green
63.4
Missoula
94.9
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Bowling Green
96.2
Missoula
96
🚗 Transportation+2.0%
Bowling Green
101.7
Missoula
103.7
🏥 Healthcare+2.0%
Bowling Green
92
Missoula
93.8
Utilities4.1%
Bowling Green
75.2
Missoula
72.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Missoula, MT
$85,500
$5,500 more needed in Missoula

Formula: salary × (96.4 ÷ 90.2) = salary × 1.0687. 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×

Missoula, MT

Median Home Price
$552,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,550
Housing Index
94.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
29.7×

Missoula has 49.7% 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

Missoula, MT

Median Household Income
$73,300
Per Capita Income
$41,800
Unemployment Rate
2.5%
Population
73,489
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTourismGovernmentRetail

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)

Missoula, MT
3.9×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.