Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,000/mo est.

vs
Fairbanks

Alaska

$1,350/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 $1,350 in Fairbanks, AK. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fairbanks, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $72,077 in Fairbanks, AK — about 31% higher in Fairbanks, AK. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
Fairbanks, AK

Rent

Studio
$881
$883
+0% in Fairbanks, AK
1 Bedroom
$854
$1,076
+26% in Fairbanks, AK
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$1,428
+33% in Fairbanks, AK
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$2,019
+63% in Fairbanks, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$255,700
+14% in Fairbanks, AK

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$72,077
+44% in Fairbanks, AK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$61,810
+27% in Fairbanks, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
28.6 yr
+3.2 yr in Baton Rouge, LA
Homeownership
46.9%
40.5%
+6.4 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
26.5%
+9.3 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Avg Commute
21.1 min
14.1 min
+7.0 min in Baton Rouge, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
726.1
+138% in Fairbanks, AK
Property Crime
1,756.3
3,504.2
+100% in Fairbanks, AK

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
27.7°F
+40.8°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
10.8 in
+49.8 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$5.21/gal
+44% in Fairbanks, AK

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.5
28.2
+109% in Fairbanks, AK
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$17.35
+4% in Fairbanks, AK

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / AK)
5%
None
+5.0 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
None
+3.0 pp in LA

Baton Rouge vs Fairbanks — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Fairbanks?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Fairbanks, AK's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Fairbanks?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $43,000 in Fairbanks.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Fairbanks?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Fairbanks under Alaska's (no state income tax and no 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).