Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,010/mo est.

vs
Burlington

Vermont

$1,530/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 $1,530 in Burlington, VT. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 34% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $68,854 in Burlington, VT — about 27% higher in Burlington, VT. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio
$881
$1,284
+46% in Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$854
$1,275
+49% in Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$1,731
+61% in Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$2,002
+61% in Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$400,200
+78% in Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$68,854
+38% in Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$60,020
+23% in Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
26.7 yr
+5.1 yr in Baton Rouge, LA
Homeownership
46.9%
39.8%
+7.1 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
60.5%
+24.7 pp in Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
21.1 min
19.2 min
+1.9 min in Baton Rouge, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
497.1
+63% in Burlington, VT
Property Crime
1,756.3
4,408.9
+151% in Burlington, VT

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
46.0°F
+22.5°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
36.8 in
+23.8 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.86/gal
+7% in Burlington, VT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
24.9
+76% in Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$20.31
+22% in Burlington, VT

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / VT)
5%
6%
+1.0 pp in VT
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
8.75%
+5.8 pp in VT

Baton Rouge vs Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Burlington?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Burlington, VT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Burlington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $51,000 in Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Burlington?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Burlington under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% 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).