Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,010/mo est.

vs
Fresno

California

$1,370/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 $1,370 in Fresno, CA. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fresno, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $66,804 in Fresno, CA — about 25% higher in Fresno, CA. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
Fresno, CA

Rent

Studio
$881
$1,072
+22% in Fresno, CA
1 Bedroom
$854
$1,042
+22% in Fresno, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$1,293
+20% in Fresno, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$1,688
+36% in Fresno, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$348,500
+55% in Fresno, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$66,804
+34% in Fresno, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$46,910
+4% in Baton Rouge, LA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
32.4 yr
+0.6 yr in Fresno, CA
Homeownership
46.9%
49.7%
+2.8 pp in Fresno, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
24.9%
+10.9 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Avg Commute
21.1 min
22.3 min
+1.2 min in Fresno, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
742.2
+143% in Fresno, CA
Property Crime
1,756.3
3,335.3
+90% in Fresno, CA

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
64.4°F
+4.1°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
11.5 in
+49.1 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$5.40/gal
+49% in Fresno, CA

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs California.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
33.3
+135% in Fresno, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$20.72
+25% in Fresno, CA

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / CA)
5%
7.25%
+2.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
13.30%
+10.3 pp in CA

Baton Rouge vs Fresno — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Fresno?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Fresno, CA's $1,370, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Fresno?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $42,000 in Fresno.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Fresno?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Fresno under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).