Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Cambridge?

Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 64% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Cambridge?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $100,000 in Cambridge.

Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Cambridge?

Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Cambridge under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Baton Rouge vs Cambridge Cost of Living 2026

Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,000/mo est.

Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,000 in Baton Rouge, LA versus $2,810 in Cambridge, MA. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 64% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $126,469 in Cambridge, MA — about 61% higher in Cambridge, MA. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA

Cambridge, MA

Rent

Studio

$881

$2,236

+154% in Cambridge, MA

1 Bedroom

$854

$2,496

+192% in Cambridge, MA

2 Bedroom

$1,075

$2,980

+177% in Cambridge, MA

3 Bedroom

$1,241

$3,325

+168% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$224,500

$1,040,500

+363% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$49,944

$126,469

+153% in Cambridge, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,710

$66,620

+37% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

31.8 yr

30.5 yr

+1.3 yr in Baton Rouge, LA

Homeownership

46.9%

33.7%

+13.2 pp in Baton Rouge, LA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.8%

80.2%

+44.4 pp in Cambridge, MA

Avg Commute

21.1 min

26.1 min

+5.0 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

305

436.7

+43% in Cambridge, MA

Property Crime

1,756.3

2,657.6

+51% in Cambridge, MA

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

51.5°F

+17.0°F in Baton Rouge, LA

Annual Precipitation

60.6 in

43.8 in

+16.9 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$4.07/gal

+12% in Cambridge, MA

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.5

29.6

+119% in Cambridge, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$16.62

$30.66

+84% in Cambridge, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Cambridge, MA

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Cambridge, MA

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Baton Rouge, LA

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Cambridge, MA

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Cambridge, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Cambridge, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / MA)

6.25%

+1.3 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

3.00%

9.00%

+6.0 pp in MA

Baton Rouge vs Cambridge — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Cambridge?: Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 64% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Cambridge?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $100,000 in Cambridge.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Cambridge?: Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Cambridge under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).