Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,010/mo est.

vs
Minneapolis

Minnesota

$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 Minneapolis, MN. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Minneapolis, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $80,269 in Minneapolis, MN — about 38% higher in Minneapolis, MN. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
Minneapolis, MN

Rent

Studio
$881
$992
+13% in Minneapolis, MN
1 Bedroom
$854
$1,192
+40% in Minneapolis, MN
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$1,555
+45% in Minneapolis, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$1,761
+42% in Minneapolis, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$345,600
+54% in Minneapolis, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$80,269
+61% in Minneapolis, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$59,320
+22% in Minneapolis, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
33.0 yr
+1.2 yr in Minneapolis, MN
Homeownership
46.9%
48.0%
+1.1 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
54.5%
+18.7 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Avg Commute
21.1 min
22.5 min
+1.4 min in Minneapolis, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
1,168.5
+283% in Minneapolis, MN
Property Crime
1,756.3
5,183.1
+195% in Minneapolis, MN

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
47.4°F
+21.1°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
32.8 in
+27.8 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.95/gal
+9% in Minneapolis, MN

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Minnesota.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
16.9
+20% in Minneapolis, MN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$14.95
+10% in Baton Rouge, LA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Minneapolis, MN
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Baton Rouge, LA
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Minneapolis, MN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Minneapolis, MN
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Minneapolis, MN
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 / MN)
5%
6.875%
+1.9 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
9.85%
+6.8 pp in MN

Baton Rouge vs Minneapolis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Minneapolis?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Minneapolis, MN's $1,370, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Minneapolis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $48,000 in Minneapolis.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Minneapolis?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Minneapolis under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).