Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,010/mo est.

vs
Bridgeport

Connecticut

$1,460/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 $1,460 in Bridgeport, CT. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bridgeport, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $56,584 in Bridgeport, CT — about 12% higher in Bridgeport, CT. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
Bridgeport, CT

Rent

Studio
$881
$950
+8% in Bridgeport, CT
1 Bedroom
$854
$1,181
+38% in Bridgeport, CT
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$1,508
+40% in Bridgeport, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$1,639
+32% in Bridgeport, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$252,400
+12% in Bridgeport, CT

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$56,584
+13% in Bridgeport, CT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$61,470
+26% in Bridgeport, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
36.4 yr
+4.6 yr in Bridgeport, CT
Homeownership
46.9%
43.3%
+3.6 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
23.1%
+12.7 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Avg Commute
21.1 min
29.9 min
+8.8 min in Bridgeport, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
401.7
+32% in Bridgeport, CT
Property Crime
1,756.3
1,478.4
+16% in Baton Rouge, LA

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
52.5°F
+16.0°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
42.7 in
+17.9 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.86/gal
+7% in Bridgeport, CT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
27.4
+93% in Bridgeport, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$23.33
+40% in Bridgeport, CT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Bridgeport, CT
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in Bridgeport, CT
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Baton Rouge, LA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in Bridgeport, CT
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in Bridgeport, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Bridgeport, CT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / CT)
5%
6.35%
+1.3 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
6.99%
+4.0 pp in CT

Baton Rouge vs Bridgeport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Bridgeport?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Bridgeport, CT's $1,460, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Bridgeport?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $47,000 in Bridgeport.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Bridgeport?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Bridgeport under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).