A-
3%
Overall NAT. AVG.
5%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
2%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Baton Rouge Louisiana National
Cost of living9791100
Goods & Services10596100
Groceries9795100
Health care10099100
Housing9881100
Transportation9696100
Utilities7384100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Baton Rouge, LA

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Baton Rouge? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Baton Rouge stands at 97, making it 3% lower than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

In Baton Rouge, daily expenses such as food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care are in line with comparable areas and about average when compared to all cities across the nation. This ensures that the cost of living in Baton Rouge will resemble that of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Baton Rouge?

When it comes to knowing a city, its residents are the experts. We conducted a survey with 15 locals to understand their opinions on the cost of living in Baton Rouge. The results indicated that 20% found it reasonably priced with decreasing prices of goods and services, while 80% viewed it as quite expensive, with increasing prices.

Is Baton Rouge Affordable?

Is Baton Rouge affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Baton Rouge, for instance, where the median home price falls 0.2% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 6.6% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Baton Rouge flaunting a median household income of $44,177, 20.1% lower than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Baton Rouge?

Urbanization: Larger, urban hubs brimming with ample amenities and robust employment opportunities often showcase a heightened cost of living. This surge is primarily attributed to the amplified demand for services and increased residential migration, culminating in elevated home prices and elevated rental rates. Conversely, less densely populated rural locales or regions characterized by reduced demand tend to offer a more limited array of amenities and undergo slower job market growth, ultimately yielding a more affordable cost of living.

Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In Baton Rouge, the housing index comes in at 1.9% lower than the national average.

Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Baton Rouge comes in at 27.3% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Baton Rouge cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Baton Rouge is 7% higher than the Louisiana average
  • The cost of living in Baton Rouge is 3% lower than the national average
  • Baton Rouge housing is 2% lower than the national average
  • Louisiana general sales tax is 13% lower than the national average
  • Louisiana state income tax is 29% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Baton Rouge

See all the best places to live around Baton Rouge

Compare Baton Rouge, LA Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$69,503$5,792$1,622$2,085
      Renters$27,713$2,309$647$831
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in Baton Rouge, LA, we can look at the percentage of income that is available to be spent on monthly housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). To stay on the safe side, a consumer should not spend more than 28% of his or her gross income on housing-related expenses and costs and not more than 36% of income on all expenses and debts. Homeowners in Baton Rouge have a median income of $69,503. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $1,622 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $27,713, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $647.

      Louisiana Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Louisiana 4.45% 11.45%

      Louisiana Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Louisiana 1.85% 4.25%

      Goods & Services

      Item Baton Rouge National avg. Difference
      Haircut $25.61$24.265.6%
      Beauty Salon $43.33$45.564.9%
      Toothpaste $3.63$3.702.0%
      Shampoo $1.17$1.288.9%
      Movie $11.59$12.134.5%
      Bowling $20.00$18.0011.1%

      Groceries

      Item Baton Rouge National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.45$5.846.7%
      Fried Chicken $1.67$1.576.2%
      Milk $4.56$4.672.4%
      Potatoes $5.20$4.935.4%
      Pizza $10.99$12.099.1%
      Beer $10.03$10.413.7%

      Health Care

      Item Baton Rouge National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $114.13$125.689.2%
      Doctor $130.33$135.784.0%
      Dentist $114.58$113.291.1%
      Ibuprofen $10.22$10.654.1%
      Lipitor $527.50$468.6012.6%

      Housing

      Item Baton Rouge National avg. Difference
      Home Price $185,000.00$184,700.000.2%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,958.49$2,346.6916.5%
      Apartment Rent $886.00$949.006.6%

      Transportation

      Item Baton Rouge National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.20$3.467.5%
      Tire Balancing $61.61$59.922.8%

      Utilities

      Item Baton Rouge National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $111.88$193.9942.3%
      Phone $185.70$192.253.4%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Crescent, LA875973.0%
      Baker, LA13,2339010.4%
      Merrydale, LA9,5239010.1%
      Port Allen, LA4,883937.4%
      Denham Springs, LA9,908955.4%
      Baton Rouge, LA222,191972.7%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Richmond, BC222,489n/a 
      Spokane, WA219,1851055.3%
      Spring Valley, NV218,69711211.7%
      San Bernardino, CA216,78411918.9%
      Boise, ID228,05711414.0%
      Baton Rouge, LA222,191972.7%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.