Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,010/mo est.

vs
Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Charleston, SC. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 38% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $90,038 in Charleston, SC — about 45% higher in Charleston, SC. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
Charleston, SC

Rent

Studio
$881
$1,579
+79% in Charleston, SC
1 Bedroom
$854
$1,430
+67% in Charleston, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$1,684
+57% in Charleston, SC
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$2,076
+67% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$469,100
+109% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$90,038
+80% in Charleston, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$49,150
+1% in Charleston, SC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
36.1 yr
+4.3 yr in Charleston, SC
Homeownership
46.9%
55.6%
+8.7 pp in Charleston, SC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
57.7%
+21.9 pp in Charleston, SC
Avg Commute
21.1 min
23.8 min
+2.7 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
358.8
+18% in Charleston, SC
Property Crime
1,756.3
2,035.1
+16% in Charleston, SC

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
66.7°F
+1.8°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
44.4 in
+16.2 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.86/gal
+7% in Charleston, SC

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
16.2
+14% in Charleston, SC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$27.35
+65% in Charleston, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / SC)
5%
6%
+1.0 pp in SC
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
6.00%
+3.0 pp in SC

Baton Rouge vs Charleston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Charleston?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Charleston?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $57,000 in Charleston.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Charleston?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Charleston under South Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% 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).