Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,010/mo est.

vs
Columbus

Georgia

$1,080/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 $1,080 in Columbus, GA. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbus, GA, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $56,622 in Columbus, GA — about 12% higher in Columbus, GA. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
Columbus, GA

Rent

Studio
$881
$826
+6% in Baton Rouge, LA
1 Bedroom
$854
$875
+2% in Columbus, GA
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$991
+8% in Baton Rouge, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$1,221
+2% in Baton Rouge, LA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$182,300
+19% in Baton Rouge, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$56,622
+13% in Columbus, GA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$43,540
+11% in Baton Rouge, LA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
35.1 yr
+3.3 yr in Columbus, GA
Homeownership
46.9%
50.2%
+3.3 pp in Columbus, GA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
29.7%
+6.1 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Avg Commute
21.1 min
20.2 min
+0.9 min in Baton Rouge, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
612.3
+101% in Columbus, GA
Property Crime
1,756.3
2,273.4
+29% in Columbus, GA

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
65.7°F
+2.8°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
46.8 in
+13.9 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.86/gal
+7% in Columbus, GA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
15.8
+12% in Columbus, GA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$33.28
+100% in Columbus, GA

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 / GA)
5%
4%
+1.0 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
5.19%
+2.2 pp in GA

Baton Rouge vs Columbus — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Columbus?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Columbus, GA's $1,080, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Columbus?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $35,000 in Columbus.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Columbus?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Columbus under Georgia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% 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).