Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,010/mo est.

vs
El Paso

Texas

$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 El Paso, TX. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than El Paso, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $58,734 in El Paso, TX — about 15% higher in El Paso, TX. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
El Paso, TX

Rent

Studio
$881
$707
+20% in Baton Rouge, LA
1 Bedroom
$854
$816
+4% in Baton Rouge, LA
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$993
+8% in Baton Rouge, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$1,252
+1% in El Paso, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$171,700
+24% in Baton Rouge, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$58,734
+18% in El Paso, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$39,510
+19% in Baton Rouge, LA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
34.1 yr
+2.3 yr in El Paso, TX
Homeownership
46.9%
60.2%
+13.3 pp in El Paso, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
27.5%
+8.3 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Avg Commute
21.1 min
23.7 min
+2.6 min in El Paso, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
319.7
+5% in El Paso, TX
Property Crime
1,756.3
1,509.3
+14% 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
64.6°F
+3.9°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
9.7 in
+50.9 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.62/gal
about equal

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
16.4
+16% in El Paso, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$30.48
+83% in El Paso, TX

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 / TX)
5%
6.25%
+1.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
None
+3.0 pp in LA

Baton Rouge vs El Paso — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or El Paso?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below El Paso, TX's $1,020, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in El Paso?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $33,000 in El Paso.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or El Paso?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); El Paso under Texas's (no state income tax 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).