Bowling Green, KY vs Jackson, MS: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Jackson, MS is 1.3% less expensive than Bowling Green, KY (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Bowling Green works out to about $74,100 in Jackson, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is everyday costs rather than housing: goods are 0.0% lower and other services 0.8% lower in Jackson, while housing is 2.2% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,470 a month in Jackson and $1,215 in Bowling Green, $3,060 a year more in Jackson (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $212,000 in Jackson and $258,000 in Bowling Green.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (0.3%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Everyday costs, not housing, drive the gap between Bowling Green and Jackson
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Bowling Green, KY
- Jackson, MS
All items Bowling Green, KY: 90.2 Jackson, MS: 89.0
Goods Bowling Green, KY: 96.2 Jackson, MS: 96.2
Housing (rents) Bowling Green, KY: 63.4 Jackson, MS: 64.8
Utilities Bowling Green, KY: 75.2 Jackson, MS: 78.1
Other services Bowling Green, KY: 96.9 Jackson, MS: 96.1
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bowling Green, KY | Jackson, MS | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 90.2 | 89.0 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 63.4 | 64.8 |
| Utilities | 75.2 | 78.1 |
| Other services | 96.9 | 96.1 |
| Category | Bowling Green | Jackson | Jackson vs Bowling Green |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 90.2 | 89.0 | −1.3% |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.2 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 63.4 | 64.8 | +2.2% |
| Utilities | 75.2 | 78.1 | +3.9% |
| Other services | 96.9 | 96.1 | −0.8% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,215 | $1,470 | +21.0% |
| Typical home value | $258,000 | $212,000 | −17.6% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Bowling Green | $75,000 | $74,100 | −1.3% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Bowling Green and Jackson has narrowed since 2008: 5.0 points then, 1.1 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Bowling Green, KY
- Jackson, MS
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bowling Green, KY | Jackson, MS | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 86.6 | 91.6 |
| 2009 | 84.7 | 90.9 |
| 2010 | 88.5 | 93.3 |
| 2011 | 87.8 | 93.1 |
| 2012 | 88.7 | 93.0 |
| 2013 | 90.0 | 93.0 |
| 2014 | 89.3 | 92.7 |
| 2015 | 88.9 | 92.9 |
| 2016 | 87.3 | 93.5 |
| 2017 | 87.8 | 92.6 |
| 2018 | 87.9 | 88.7 |
| 2019 | 88.9 | 88.6 |
| 2020 | 89.4 | 88.9 |
| 2021 | 88.6 | 88.5 |
| 2022 | 89.3 | 90.2 |
| 2023 | 89.9 | 89.8 |
| 2024 | 90.2 | 89.0 |
Goods
- Bowling Green, KY
- Jackson, MS
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bowling Green, KY | Jackson, MS | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.3 | 96.7 |
| 2009 | 91.9 | 94.4 |
| 2010 | 96.9 | 96.7 |
| 2011 | 94.7 | 96.3 |
| 2012 | 91.1 | 95.7 |
| 2013 | 92.9 | 96.3 |
| 2014 | 92.0 | 96.7 |
| 2015 | 91.6 | 95.5 |
| 2016 | 92.8 | 96.3 |
| 2017 | 91.7 | 95.9 |
| 2018 | 92.8 | 93.1 |
| 2019 | 94.8 | 94.9 |
| 2020 | 94.4 | 94.6 |
| 2021 | 93.9 | 94.2 |
| 2022 | 94.2 | 94.2 |
| 2023 | 94.4 | 94.4 |
| 2024 | 96.2 | 96.2 |
Housing (rents)
- Bowling Green, KY
- Jackson, MS
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bowling Green, KY | Jackson, MS | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 57.3 | 68.3 |
| 2009 | 58.9 | 71.7 |
| 2010 | 64.5 | 75.3 |
| 2011 | 58.7 | 71.5 |
| 2012 | 63.6 | 71.2 |
| 2013 | 66.5 | 71.4 |
| 2014 | 64.1 | 68.5 |
| 2015 | 62.7 | 72.2 |
| 2016 | 59.4 | 71.9 |
| 2017 | 63.3 | 70.9 |
| 2018 | 59.8 | 66.0 |
| 2019 | 62.0 | 61.3 |
| 2020 | 65.1 | 66.3 |
| 2021 | 62.2 | 64.4 |
| 2022 | 63.3 | 67.3 |
| 2023 | 66.1 | 65.6 |
| 2024 | 63.4 | 64.8 |
Utilities
- Bowling Green, KY
- Jackson, MS
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bowling Green, KY | Jackson, MS | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 70.2 | 88.2 |
| 2009 | 70.8 | 84.4 |
| 2010 | 72.6 | 84.7 |
| 2011 | 76.4 | 84.1 |
| 2012 | 80.7 | 85.0 |
| 2013 | 80.5 | 85.9 |
| 2014 | 83.9 | 88.8 |
| 2015 | 86.5 | 89.3 |
| 2016 | 86.9 | 85.0 |
| 2017 | 87.8 | 84.9 |
| 2018 | 79.3 | 79.9 |
| 2019 | 78.2 | 78.4 |
| 2020 | 77.4 | 77.6 |
| 2021 | 80.0 | 80.4 |
| 2022 | 81.8 | 80.3 |
| 2023 | 80.7 | 83.6 |
| 2024 | 75.2 | 78.1 |
Other services
- Bowling Green, KY
- Jackson, MS
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Bowling Green, KY | Jackson, MS | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.5 | 97.7 |
| 2009 | 93.1 | 97.0 |
| 2010 | 94.7 | 98.9 |
| 2011 | 96.2 | 100.8 |
| 2012 | 97.9 | 100.8 |
| 2013 | 98.6 | 100.4 |
| 2014 | 99.2 | 100.2 |
| 2015 | 97.8 | 100.2 |
| 2016 | 96.2 | 100.8 |
| 2017 | 94.6 | 99.2 |
| 2018 | 96.3 | 95.7 |
| 2019 | 96.7 | 96.2 |
| 2020 | 96.2 | 95.2 |
| 2021 | 96.2 | 94.7 |
| 2022 | 96.8 | 97.1 |
| 2023 | 97.8 | 97.7 |
| 2024 | 96.9 | 96.1 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,470 in Jackson vs $1,215 in Bowling Green
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Bowling Green, KY
- Jackson, MS
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Bowling Green, KY | Jackson, MS | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | – | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | – | – | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | – | $969 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | – | $975 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | – | $978 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | – | $980 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | – | $996 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $886 | $988 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $864 | $995 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $854 | $1,015 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $877 | $1,005 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $862 | $1,006 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $878 | $1,022 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $877 | $1,021 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $894 | $1,020 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $891 | $1,036 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $893 | $1,053 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $896 | $1,064 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $917 | $1,057 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $927 | $1,079 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $914 | $1,087 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $934 | $1,097 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $960 | $1,143 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,019 | $1,165 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,033 | $1,173 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,064 | $1,185 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,094 | $1,224 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,113 | $1,259 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,099 | $1,249 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | – | $1,250 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,151 | $1,289 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,154 | $1,295 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,151 | $1,290 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,168 | $1,308 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,185 | $1,345 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,191 | $1,359 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,188 | $1,367 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,194 | $1,382 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,194 | $1,397 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,201 | $1,415 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,209 | $1,426 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,214 | $1,439 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,226 | $1,459 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,215 | $1,470 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $212,000 in Jackson vs $258,000 in Bowling Green
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Bowling Green, KY
- Jackson, MS
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Bowling Green, KY | Jackson, MS | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $129K | $126K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $132K | $129K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $134K | $131K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $137K | $133K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $139K | $134K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $141K | $135K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $142K | $136K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $144K | $137K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $147K | $137K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $150K | $138K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $152K | $139K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $155K | $141K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $157K | $142K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $159K | $143K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $161K | $144K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $163K | $145K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $164K | $148K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $166K | $151K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $169K | $152K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $171K | $153K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $174K | $155K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $176K | $156K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $181K | $158K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $188K | $163K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $195K | $169K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $203K | $175K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $208K | $179K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $211K | $184K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $222K | $190K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $232K | $195K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $236K | $198K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $238K | $198K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $239K | $195K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $244K | $199K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $247K | $201K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $248K | $198K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $251K | $198K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $254K | $201K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $254K | $200K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $255K | $203K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $261K | $208K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $261K | $207K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $259K | $207K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $259K | $208K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $261K | $212K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $260K | $213K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $258K | $212K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.