Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,010/mo est.

vs
Buffalo

New York

$1,150/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 $1,150 in Buffalo, NY. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Buffalo, NY, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $48,050 in Buffalo, NY — about 4% higher in Baton Rouge, LA. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
Buffalo, NY

Rent

Studio
$881
$812
+8% in Baton Rouge, LA
1 Bedroom
$854
$849
+1% in Baton Rouge, LA
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$954
+11% in Baton Rouge, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$1,080
+13% in Baton Rouge, LA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$152,300
+32% in Baton Rouge, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$48,050
+4% in Baton Rouge, LA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$50,790
+4% in Buffalo, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
34.3 yr
+2.5 yr in Buffalo, NY
Homeownership
46.9%
42.7%
+4.2 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
30.3%
+5.5 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Avg Commute
21.1 min
19.9 min
+1.2 min in Baton Rouge, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
770.5
+153% in Buffalo, NY
Property Crime
1,756.3
4,003.2
+128% in Buffalo, NY

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
48.3°F
+20.2°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
40.5 in
+20.2 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$4.04/gal
+12% in Buffalo, NY

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
29.9
+112% in Buffalo, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$22.74
+37% in Buffalo, NY

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / NY)
5%
4%
+1.0 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
10.90%
+7.9 pp in NY

Baton Rouge vs Buffalo — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Buffalo?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Buffalo, NY's $1,150, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Buffalo?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $34,000 in Buffalo.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Buffalo?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Buffalo under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% 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).