Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,010/mo est.

vs
Des Moines

Iowa

$1,020/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 $1,020 in Des Moines, IA. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Des Moines, IA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $63,966 in Des Moines, IA — about 22% higher in Des Moines, IA. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
Des Moines, IA

Rent

Studio
$881
$870
+1% in Baton Rouge, LA
1 Bedroom
$854
$870
+2% in Des Moines, IA
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$1,099
+2% in Des Moines, IA
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$1,334
+7% in Des Moines, IA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$183,700
+18% in Baton Rouge, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$63,966
+28% in Des Moines, IA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$51,820
+6% in Des Moines, IA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
34.6 yr
+2.8 yr in Des Moines, IA
Homeownership
46.9%
60.4%
+13.5 pp in Des Moines, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
29.0%
+6.8 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Avg Commute
21.1 min
19.6 min
+1.5 min in Baton Rouge, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
707.3
+132% in Des Moines, IA
Property Crime
1,756.3
3,156.6
+80% in Des Moines, IA

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
50.9°F
+17.6°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
36.0 in
+24.6 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Des Moines, IA

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
14.1
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$15.72
+5% in Baton Rouge, LA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Des Moines, IA
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Baton Rouge, LA
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Des Moines, IA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Des Moines, IA
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Des Moines, IA
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 / IA)
5%
6%
+1.0 pp in IA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
3.80%
+0.8 pp in IA

Baton Rouge vs Des Moines — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Des Moines?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Des Moines, IA's $1,020, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Des Moines?
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 Des Moines.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Des Moines?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Des Moines under Iowa's (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% 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).