Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,010/mo est.

vs
Newark

New Jersey

$1,210/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 $1,210 in Newark, NJ. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, NJ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $48,416 in Newark, NJ — about 3% higher in Baton Rouge, LA. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
Newark, NJ

Rent

Studio
$881
$1,111
+26% in Newark, NJ
1 Bedroom
$854
$978
+15% in Newark, NJ
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$1,386
+29% in Newark, NJ
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$1,695
+37% in Newark, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$337,800
+50% in Newark, NJ

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$48,416
+3% in Baton Rouge, LA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$61,430
+26% in Newark, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
34.8 yr
+3.0 yr in Newark, NJ
Homeownership
46.9%
24.1%
+22.8 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
17.4%
+18.4 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Avg Commute
21.1 min
33.2 min
+12.1 min in Newark, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
582.5
+91% in Newark, NJ
Property Crime
1,756.3
1,961.8
+12% in Newark, NJ

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
54.9°F
+13.6°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
46.3 in
+14.4 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.86/gal
+7% in Newark, NJ

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
23.3
+64% in Newark, NJ
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$15.93
+4% in Baton Rouge, LA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Newark, NJ
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in Newark, NJ
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Baton Rouge, LA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in Newark, NJ
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in Newark, NJ
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Newark, NJ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / NJ)
5%
6.625%
+1.6 pp in NJ
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
10.75%
+7.8 pp in NJ

Baton Rouge vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Newark?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Newark, NJ's $1,210, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Newark?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $39,000 in Newark.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Newark?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Newark under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).