Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,000/mo est.

vs
Missoula

Montana

$1,100/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 $1,100 in Missoula, MT. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Missoula, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $65,329 in Missoula, MT — about 24% higher in Missoula, MT. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
Missoula, MT

Rent

Studio
$881
$755
+14% in Baton Rouge, LA
1 Bedroom
$854
$953
+12% in Missoula, MT
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$1,176
+9% in Missoula, MT
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$1,676
+35% in Missoula, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$427,400
+90% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$65,329
+31% in Missoula, MT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$47,830
+2% in Baton Rouge, LA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
34.3 yr
+2.5 yr in Missoula, MT
Homeownership
46.9%
47.8%
+0.9 pp in Missoula, MT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
51.7%
+15.9 pp in Missoula, MT
Avg Commute
21.1 min
16.6 min
+4.5 min in Baton Rouge, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
601.9
+97% in Missoula, MT
Property Crime
1,756.3
3,685.2
+110% in Missoula, MT

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
45.9°F
+22.6°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
14.1 in
+46.5 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$4.27/gal
+18% in Missoula, MT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.5
15.1
+12% in Missoula, MT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$10.12
+39% in Baton Rouge, LA

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / MT)
5%
None
+5.0 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
5.65%
+2.7 pp in MT

Baton Rouge vs Missoula — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Missoula?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Missoula, MT's $1,100, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Missoula?
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 Missoula.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Missoula?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Missoula under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no 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).