Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,010/mo est.

vs
Charlotte

North Carolina

$1,560/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 $1,560 in Charlotte, NC. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 35% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charlotte, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $78,438 in Charlotte, NC — about 36% higher in Charlotte, NC. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
Charlotte, NC

Rent

Studio
$881
$1,424
+62% in Charlotte, NC
1 Bedroom
$854
$1,374
+61% in Charlotte, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$1,491
+39% in Charlotte, NC
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$1,663
+34% in Charlotte, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$351,500
+57% in Charlotte, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$78,438
+57% in Charlotte, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$49,990
+3% in Charlotte, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
34.4 yr
+2.6 yr in Charlotte, NC
Homeownership
46.9%
51.5%
+4.6 pp in Charlotte, NC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
47.4%
+11.6 pp in Charlotte, NC
Avg Commute
21.1 min
25.0 min
+3.9 min in Charlotte, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
733.1
+140% in Charlotte, NC
Property Crime
1,756.3
3,718.9
+112% in Charlotte, NC

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
59.9°F
+8.6°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
41.6 in
+19.0 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.86/gal
+7% in Charlotte, NC

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.20

Adult base one-way fare — — vs CATS (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
15.1
+7% in Charlotte, NC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$27.56
+66% in Charlotte, NC

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 / NC)
5%
4.75%
+0.3 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
3.99%
+1.0 pp in NC

Baton Rouge vs Charlotte — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Charlotte?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% below Charlotte, NC's $1,560, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Charlotte?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $55,000 in Charlotte.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Charlotte?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Charlotte under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).