Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,000/mo est.

vs
Cranston

Rhode Island

$1,330/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,000 in Baton Rouge, LA versus $1,330 in Cranston, RI. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cranston, RI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $87,716 in Cranston, RI — about 43% higher in Cranston, RI. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
Cranston, RI

Rent

Studio
$881
—
1 Bedroom
$854
$1,032
+21% in Cranston, RI
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$1,438
+34% in Cranston, RI
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$1,688
+36% in Cranston, RI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$348,800
+55% in Cranston, RI

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$87,716
+76% in Cranston, RI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$53,680
+10% in Cranston, RI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
40.1 yr
+8.3 yr in Cranston, RI
Homeownership
46.9%
67.3%
+20.4 pp in Cranston, RI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
35.8%
about equal
Avg Commute
21.1 min
23.8 min
+2.7 min in Cranston, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
93.1
+69% in Baton Rouge, LA
Property Crime
1,756.3
1,065.4
+39% in Baton Rouge, LA

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
51.6°F
+16.9°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
47.2 in
+13.5 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Cranston, RI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.5
29.2
+117% in Cranston, RI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$25.75
+55% in Cranston, RI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Cranston, RI
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in Cranston, RI
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Baton Rouge, LA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in Cranston, RI
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in Cranston, RI
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Cranston, RI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / RI)
5%
7%
+2.0 pp in RI
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
5.99%
+3.0 pp in RI

Baton Rouge vs Cranston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Cranston?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Cranston, RI's $1,330, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Cranston?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $41,000 in Cranston.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Cranston?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Cranston under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% 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).