Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,000/mo est.

vs
Cedar Rapids

Iowa

$900/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 $900 in Cedar Rapids, IA. Overall, Cedar Rapids, IA is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Baton Rouge, LA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $67,859 in Cedar Rapids, IA — about 26% higher in Cedar Rapids, IA. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
Cedar Rapids, IA

Rent

Studio
$881
$659
+25% in Baton Rouge, LA
1 Bedroom
$854
$716
+16% in Baton Rouge, LA
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$997
+7% in Baton Rouge, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$1,335
+8% in Cedar Rapids, IA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$177,100
+21% in Baton Rouge, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$67,859
+36% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$49,360
+1% in Cedar Rapids, IA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
36.9 yr
+5.1 yr in Cedar Rapids, IA
Homeownership
46.9%
68.2%
+21.3 pp in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
32.9%
+2.9 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Avg Commute
21.1 min
18.2 min
+2.9 min in Baton Rouge, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
264.5
+13% in Baton Rouge, LA
Property Crime
1,756.3
2,726
+55% in Cedar Rapids, IA

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
48.2°F
+20.3°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
34.6 in
+26.0 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.85/gal
+6% in Cedar Rapids, IA

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.5
15.9
+18% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$22.16
+33% in Cedar Rapids, IA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Baton Rouge, LA
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Cedar Rapids, IA
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / IA)
5%
6%
+1.0 pp in IA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
3.80%
+0.8 pp in IA

Baton Rouge vs Cedar Rapids — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Cedar Rapids?
Cedar Rapids, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $900 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Baton Rouge, LA's $1,000, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Cedar Rapids?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $29,000 in Cedar Rapids.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Cedar Rapids?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Cedar Rapids under Iowa's (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% 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).