Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,010/mo est.

vs
Memphis

Tennessee

$1,110/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 $1,110 in Memphis, TN. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Memphis, TN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $51,211 in Memphis, TN — about 2% higher in Memphis, TN. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
Memphis, TN

Rent

Studio
$881
$877
+0% in Baton Rouge, LA
1 Bedroom
$854
$948
+11% in Memphis, TN
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$1,073
+0% in Baton Rouge, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$1,281
+3% in Memphis, TN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$157,100
+30% in Baton Rouge, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$51,211
+3% in Memphis, TN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$46,890
+4% in Baton Rouge, LA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
34.3 yr
+2.5 yr in Memphis, TN
Homeownership
46.9%
46.0%
+0.9 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
28.2%
+7.6 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Avg Commute
21.1 min
21.3 min
+0.2 min in Memphis, TN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
2,507.6
+722% in Memphis, TN
Property Crime
1,756.3
6,966.3
+297% in Memphis, TN

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
63.1°F
+5.4°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
53.7 in
+7.0 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Memphis, TN

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
14.5
+2% in Memphis, TN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$16.83
+1% in Memphis, TN

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / TN)
5%
7%
+2.0 pp in TN
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
None
+3.0 pp in LA

Baton Rouge vs Memphis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Memphis?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Memphis, TN's $1,110, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Memphis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $38,000 in Memphis.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Memphis?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Memphis under Tennessee's (no state income tax and a 7% 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).