Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,000/mo est.

vs
Grand Forks

North Dakota

$920/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 $920 in Grand Forks, ND. Overall, Grand Forks, ND is roughly 8% 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 $63,838 in Grand Forks, ND — about 22% higher in Grand Forks, 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
Grand Forks, ND

Rent

Studio
$881
$784
+11% in Baton Rouge, LA
1 Bedroom
$854
$761
+11% in Baton Rouge, LA
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$947
+12% in Baton Rouge, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$1,371
+10% in Grand Forks, ND

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$243,300
+8% in Grand Forks, ND

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$63,838
+28% in Grand Forks, ND
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$49,760
+2% in Grand Forks, ND

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
29.4 yr
+2.4 yr in Baton Rouge, LA
Homeownership
46.9%
46.5%
+0.4 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
39.2%
+3.4 pp in Grand Forks, ND
Avg Commute
21.1 min
14.8 min
+6.3 min in Baton Rouge, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
360.3
+18% in Grand Forks, ND
Property Crime
1,756.3
2,290.6
+30% in Grand Forks, 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
40.0°F
+28.5°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
20.8 in
+39.8 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.85/gal
+6% in Grand Forks, ND

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.5
14.1
+5% in Grand Forks, ND
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$18.21
+10% in Grand Forks, ND

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Grand Forks, ND
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Baton Rouge, LA
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Grand Forks, ND
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Grand Forks, ND
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Grand Forks, 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 Grand Forks — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Grand Forks?
Grand Forks, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Baton Rouge, LA's $1,000, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Grand Forks?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $30,000 in Grand Forks.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Grand Forks?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Grand Forks 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).