Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Nashua?

Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 40% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Nashua?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $55,000 in Nashua.

Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Nashua?

Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Nashua under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Baton Rouge vs Nashua Cost of Living 2026

Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,000/mo est.

Nashua

New Hampshire

$1,660/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 $1,660 in Nashua, NH. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 40% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Nashua, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $92,457 in Nashua, NH — about 46% higher in Nashua, NH. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA

Nashua, NH

Rent

Studio

$881

$1,127

+28% in Nashua, NH

1 Bedroom

$854

$1,383

+62% in Nashua, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,075

$1,699

+58% in Nashua, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,241

$1,951

+57% in Nashua, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$224,500

$373,100

+66% in Nashua, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$49,944

$92,457

+85% in Nashua, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,710

$56,530

+16% in Nashua, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

31.8 yr

39.7 yr

+7.9 yr in Nashua, NH

Homeownership

46.9%

56.4%

+9.5 pp in Nashua, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.8%

40.5%

+4.7 pp in Nashua, NH

Avg Commute

21.1 min

25.3 min

+4.2 min in Nashua, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

305

164.9

+46% in Baton Rouge, LA

Property Crime

1,756.3

1,269

+28% 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

49.2°F

+19.3°F in Baton Rouge, LA

Annual Precipitation

60.6 in

44.6 in

+16.1 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in Nashua, NH

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.5

27.0

+100% in Nashua, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$16.62

$21.67

+30% in Nashua, NH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Nashua, NH

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Nashua, NH

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Baton Rouge, LA

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Nashua, NH

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Nashua, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Nashua, NH

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / NH)

None

+5.0 pp in LA

Income Tax (top rate)

3.00%

None

+3.0 pp in LA

Baton Rouge vs Nashua — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Nashua?: Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 40% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Nashua?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $55,000 in Nashua.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Nashua?: Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Nashua under New Hampshire's (no state income tax 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).