Living Cost Compare
Atlanta

Georgia

$1,780/mo est.

vs
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,010/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,780 in Atlanta, GA versus $1,010 in Baton Rouge, LA. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 43% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Atlanta, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,938 in Atlanta, GA and $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA — about 39% higher in Atlanta, GA. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Atlanta, GA
Baton Rouge, LA

Rent

Studio
$1,669
$881
+47% in Atlanta, GA
1 Bedroom
$1,576
$854
+46% in Atlanta, GA
2 Bedroom
$1,701
$1,075
+37% in Atlanta, GA
3 Bedroom
$1,557
$1,241
+20% in Atlanta, GA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,600
$224,500
+47% in Atlanta, GA

Income

Median Household Income
$81,938
$49,944
+39% in Atlanta, GA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,170
$48,710
+5% in Atlanta, GA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.0 yr
31.8 yr
+2.2 yr in Atlanta, GA
Homeownership
46.3%
46.9%
+0.6 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
58.4%
35.8%
+22.6 pp in Atlanta, GA
Avg Commute
26.8 min
21.1 min
+5.7 min in Atlanta, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
603.7
305
+49% in Atlanta, GA
Property Crime
3,548.3
1,756.3
+51% in Atlanta, GA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
62.6°F
68.5°F
+5.9°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
49.7 in
60.6 in
+10.9 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.62/gal
+6% in Atlanta, GA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
—

Adult base one-way fare — MARTA vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.8
14.2
+11% in Atlanta, GA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$33.28
$16.62
+50% in Atlanta, GA

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

Average prices — South vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / LA)
4%
5%
+1.0 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.19%
3.00%
+2.2 pp in GA

Atlanta vs Baton Rouge — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or Baton Rouge?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 43% below Atlanta, GA's $1,780, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Atlanta than in Baton Rouge?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Atlanta versus $34,000 in Baton Rouge.
Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or Baton Rouge?
Atlanta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); Baton Rouge under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).