Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,010/mo est.

vs
Chicago

Illinois

$1,490/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 $1,490 in Chicago, IL. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 32% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $75,134 in Chicago, IL — about 34% higher in Chicago, IL. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
Chicago, IL

Rent

Studio
$881
$1,186
+35% in Chicago, IL
1 Bedroom
$854
$1,258
+47% in Chicago, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$1,406
+31% in Chicago, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$1,554
+25% in Chicago, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$315,200
+40% in Chicago, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$75,134
+50% in Chicago, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$54,720
+12% in Chicago, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
35.7 yr
+3.9 yr in Chicago, IL
Homeownership
46.9%
45.5%
+1.4 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
43.3%
+7.5 pp in Chicago, IL
Avg Commute
21.1 min
33.5 min
+12.4 min in Chicago, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
539.8
+77% in Chicago, IL
Property Crime
1,756.3
3,489.9
+99% in Chicago, IL

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
52.7°F
+15.8°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
38.0 in
+22.7 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$4.29/gal
+18% in Chicago, IL

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Chicago.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
23.9
+69% in Chicago, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$15.39
+7% in Baton Rouge, LA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Chicago, IL
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Baton Rouge, LA
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Chicago, IL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Chicago, IL
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Chicago, IL
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 / IL)
5%
6.25%
+1.3 pp in IL
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
4.95%
+2.0 pp in IL

Baton Rouge vs Chicago — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Chicago?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Chicago, IL's $1,490, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Chicago?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $50,000 in Chicago.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Chicago?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Chicago under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% 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).