Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,010/mo est.

vs
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/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 $1,170 in New Orleans, LA. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Orleans, LA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $55,339 in New Orleans, LA — about 10% higher in New Orleans, LA. Both cities are in Louisiana, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
New Orleans, LA

Rent

Studio
$881
$953
+8% in New Orleans, LA
1 Bedroom
$854
$1,019
+19% in New Orleans, LA
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$1,287
+20% in New Orleans, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$1,392
+12% in New Orleans, LA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$296,400
+32% in New Orleans, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$55,339
+11% in New Orleans, LA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$47,290
+3% in Baton Rouge, LA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
38.4 yr
+6.6 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
46.9%
50.5%
+3.6 pp in New Orleans, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
42.0%
+6.2 pp in New Orleans, LA
Avg Commute
21.1 min
22.7 min
+1.6 min in New Orleans, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
1,361.1
+346% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
1,756.3
5,089.6
+190% in New Orleans, 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
70.6°F
+2.1°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
62.3 in
+1.6 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.62/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.25

Adult base one-way fare — — vs New Orleans RTA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
14.2
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$16.62
about equal

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 / LA)
5%
5%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
3.00%
about equal

Baton Rouge vs New Orleans — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or New Orleans?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below New Orleans, LA's $1,170, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in New Orleans?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $41,000 in New Orleans.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or New Orleans?
Neither — both are in Louisiana, so they share the same state tax rates: a top state income tax rate of 3.00% 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).