Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,010/mo est.

vs
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,470/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 $1,470 in Colorado Springs, CO. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Colorado Springs, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO — about 40% higher in Colorado Springs, CO. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
Colorado Springs, CO

Rent

Studio
$881
$998
+13% in Colorado Springs, CO
1 Bedroom
$854
$1,305
+53% in Colorado Springs, CO
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$1,504
+40% in Colorado Springs, CO
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$1,881
+52% in Colorado Springs, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$420,700
+87% in Colorado Springs, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$83,198
+67% in Colorado Springs, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$52,710
+8% in Colorado Springs, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
35.6 yr
+3.8 yr in Colorado Springs, CO
Homeownership
46.9%
61.3%
+14.4 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
41.9%
+6.1 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Avg Commute
21.1 min
22.8 min
+1.7 min in Colorado Springs, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
722.1
+137% in Colorado Springs, CO
Property Crime
1,756.3
3,488.7
+99% in Colorado Springs, CO

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
49.0°F
+19.5°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
16.5 in
+44.1 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$4.25/gal
+17% in Colorado Springs, CO

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Colorado.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
16.2
+14% in Colorado Springs, CO
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$11.92
+28% in Baton Rouge, LA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in Colorado Springs, CO
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Baton Rouge, LA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in Colorado Springs, CO
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / CO)
5%
2.9%
+2.1 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
4.40%
+1.4 pp in CO

Baton Rouge vs Colorado Springs — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Colorado Springs?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Colorado Springs, CO's $1,470, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Colorado Springs?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $52,000 in Colorado Springs.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Colorado Springs?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Colorado Springs under Colorado's (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).