Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,010/mo est.

vs
Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,010 in Baton Rouge, LA versus $1,190 in Birmingham, AL. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Birmingham, AL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $44,376 in Birmingham, AL — about 11% higher in Baton Rouge, LA. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
Birmingham, AL

Rent

Studio
$881
$857
+3% in Baton Rouge, LA
1 Bedroom
$854
$1,004
+18% in Birmingham, AL
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$1,005
+7% in Baton Rouge, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$1,188
+4% in Baton Rouge, LA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$138,600
+38% in Baton Rouge, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$44,376
+11% in Baton Rouge, LA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$47,770
+2% in Baton Rouge, LA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
35.9 yr
+4.1 yr in Birmingham, AL
Homeownership
46.9%
45.1%
+1.8 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
30.7%
+5.1 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Avg Commute
21.1 min
21.5 min
+0.4 min in Birmingham, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
1,274.7
+318% in Birmingham, AL
Property Crime
1,756.3
4,233
+141% in Birmingham, AL

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
68.5°F
63.3°F
+5.2°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
53.7 in
+6.9 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.62/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
16.8
+19% in Birmingham, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$22.64
+36% in Birmingham, AL

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 (LA / AL)
5%
4%
+1.0 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
5.00%
+2.0 pp in AL

Baton Rouge vs Birmingham — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Birmingham?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Birmingham, AL's $1,190, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Birmingham?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $40,000 in Birmingham.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Birmingham?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Birmingham under Alabama's (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).