Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,010/mo est.

vs
Fargo

North Dakota

$940/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 $940 in Fargo, ND. Overall, Fargo, ND is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Baton Rouge, LA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $66,029 in Fargo, ND — about 24% higher in Fargo, ND. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
Fargo, ND

Rent

Studio
$881
$671
+24% in Baton Rouge, LA
1 Bedroom
$854
$804
+6% in Baton Rouge, LA
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$956
+11% in Baton Rouge, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$1,368
+10% in Fargo, ND

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$269,800
+20% in Fargo, ND

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$66,029
+32% in Fargo, ND
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$51,050
+5% in Fargo, ND

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
32.2 yr
+0.4 yr in Fargo, ND
Homeownership
46.9%
44.1%
+2.8 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
43.2%
+7.4 pp in Fargo, ND
Avg Commute
21.1 min
15.8 min
+5.3 min in Baton Rouge, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
504.9
+66% in Fargo, ND
Property Crime
1,756.3
3,726.4
+112% in Fargo, ND

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
42.4°F
+26.1°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
22.6 in
+38.1 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Fargo, ND

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
13.6
+4% in Baton Rouge, LA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$11.39
+31% in Baton Rouge, LA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Fargo, ND
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Baton Rouge, LA
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Fargo, ND
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Fargo, ND
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Fargo, ND
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 / ND)
5%
5%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
2.50%
+0.5 pp in LA

Baton Rouge vs Fargo — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Fargo?
Fargo, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Baton Rouge, LA's $1,010, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Fargo?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $32,000 in Fargo.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Fargo?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Fargo under North Dakota's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% 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).