CostIndexUSA

Bowling Green, KY vs Erie, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableKY
Bowling Green
90.2
overall index
$1,250/mo rent
PA
Erie
91
overall index
$1,075/mo rent

Bowling Green is slightly cheaper than Erie — 0.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bowling Green, you would need $80,700 in Erie. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing10.4%
Bowling Green
63.4
Erie
56.8
🛒 Groceries+4.7%
Bowling Green
96.2
Erie
100.7
🚗 Transportation+0.9%
Bowling Green
101.7
Erie
102.6
🏥 Healthcare+0.9%
Bowling Green
92
Erie
92.8
Utilities+42.0%
Bowling Green
75.2
Erie
106.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Erie, PA
$80,700
$700 more needed in Erie

Formula: salary × (91 ÷ 90.2) = salary × 1.0089. 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×

Erie, PA

Median Home Price
$209,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,075
Housing Index
56.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.2×

Bowling Green has 10.4% lower housing costs compared to Erie.

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

Erie, PA

Median Household Income
$60,700
Per Capita Income
$34,600
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
94,831
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareEducationTechnologyRetail

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)

Erie, PA
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.