Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,010/mo est.

vs
Milwaukee

Wisconsin

$1,040/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 $1,040 in Milwaukee, WI. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Milwaukee, WI, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI — about 4% higher in Milwaukee, WI. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
Milwaukee, WI

Rent

Studio
$881
$841
+5% in Baton Rouge, LA
1 Bedroom
$854
$849
+1% in Baton Rouge, LA
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$1,031
+4% in Baton Rouge, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$1,193
+4% in Baton Rouge, LA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$172,000
+23% in Baton Rouge, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$51,888
+4% in Milwaukee, WI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$51,160
+5% in Milwaukee, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
32.2 yr
+0.4 yr in Milwaukee, WI
Homeownership
46.9%
41.5%
+5.4 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
26.6%
+9.2 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Avg Commute
21.1 min
22.4 min
+1.3 min in Milwaukee, WI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
1,452.3
+376% in Milwaukee, WI
Property Crime
1,756.3
2,772.2
+58% in Milwaukee, WI

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
47.9°F
+20.6°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
34.8 in
+25.9 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Milwaukee, WI

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
19.7
+40% in Milwaukee, WI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$11.79
+29% in Baton Rouge, LA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Milwaukee, WI
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Baton Rouge, LA
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Milwaukee, WI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Milwaukee, WI
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Milwaukee, WI
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 / WI)
5%
5%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
7.65%
+4.7 pp in WI

Baton Rouge vs Milwaukee — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Milwaukee?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Milwaukee, WI's $1,040, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Milwaukee?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $34,000 in Milwaukee.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Milwaukee?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Milwaukee under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% 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).