Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,000/mo est.

vs
Idaho Falls

Idaho

$970/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 $970 in Idaho Falls, ID. Overall, Idaho Falls, ID is roughly 3% 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 $69,630 in Idaho Falls, ID — about 28% higher in Idaho Falls, ID. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
Idaho Falls, ID

Rent

Studio
$881
$818
+7% in Baton Rouge, LA
1 Bedroom
$854
$827
+3% in Baton Rouge, LA
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$957
+11% in Baton Rouge, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$1,278
+3% in Idaho Falls, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$298,600
+33% in Idaho Falls, ID

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$69,630
+39% in Idaho Falls, ID
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$46,800
+4% in Baton Rouge, LA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
33.5 yr
+1.7 yr in Idaho Falls, ID
Homeownership
46.9%
64.1%
+17.2 pp in Idaho Falls, ID
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
31.0%
+4.8 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Avg Commute
21.1 min
18.2 min
+2.9 min in Baton Rouge, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
365.3
+20% in Idaho Falls, ID
Property Crime
1,756.3
1,235.5
+30% 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
44.2°F
+24.3°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
10.4 in
+50.3 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$4.27/gal
+18% in Idaho Falls, ID

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.5
14.4
+7% in Idaho Falls, ID
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$11.33
+32% in Baton Rouge, LA

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / ID)
5%
6%
+1.0 pp in ID
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
5.30%
+2.3 pp in ID

Baton Rouge vs Idaho Falls — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Idaho Falls?
Idaho Falls, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% 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 Idaho Falls?
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 Idaho Falls.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Idaho Falls?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Idaho Falls under Idaho's (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% 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).