City Comparison

Bowling Green vs Peoria

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Bowling Green

Kentucky
85
Very Affordable
$266,000
Median Home
$900/mo
Median Rent
$48,900
Median Income

Peoria

Illinois
76
Very Affordable
$164,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$58,700
Median Income

The Verdict

11.8%

Living in Peoria costs 11.8% less than Bowling Green. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Bowling Green, you would need $67,059 in Peoria.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
71
Bowling Green
42
Peoria
Groceries
95
Bowling Green
97
Peoria
Utilities
109
Bowling Green
103
Peoria
Transportation
80
Bowling Green
108
Peoria
Healthcare
87
Bowling Green
107
Peoria

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Bowling Green has the same purchasing power as $67,059 in Peoria.

Conversely, $75,000 in Peoria equals $83,882 in Bowling Green.

Living in Bowling Green vs Peoria

Housing Costs

Bowling Green's housing index of 71 is higher Peoria's 42, translating to median home prices of $266,000 vs $164,000. The $102,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,636 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Bowling Green compared to $1,000/mo in Peoria, a monthly difference of $100.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Bowling Green and 97 in Peoria. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Bowling Green vs $461/month in Peoria. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 109 in Bowling Green and 103 in Peoria. Monthly utility bills average approximately $436 in Bowling Green vs $412 in Peoria. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 87 in Bowling Green and 107 in Peoria. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 20-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $48,900 in Bowling Green and $58,700 in Peoria. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,529 and $77,237 respectively. Peoria residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,141/month to housing in Bowling Green vs $1,370/month in Peoria. In Bowling Green, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Peoria, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 29 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Peoria is 11.8% more affordable overall with an index of 76 vs 85.
A $75,000 salary in Bowling Green has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $67,059 in Peoria, based on the cost of living difference.
Bowling Green's housing index is 71 with median homes at $266,000, while Peoria's is 42 with median homes at $164,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

Moving PlannersFinance BooksBudget Planners

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases