Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,010/mo est.

vs
Norfolk

Virginia

$1,230/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 $1,230 in Norfolk, VA. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Norfolk, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $64,017 in Norfolk, VA — about 22% higher in Norfolk, VA. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
Norfolk, VA

Rent

Studio
$881
$1,102
+25% in Norfolk, VA
1 Bedroom
$854
$1,032
+21% in Norfolk, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$1,214
+13% in Norfolk, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$1,602
+29% in Norfolk, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$271,900
+21% in Norfolk, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$64,017
+28% in Norfolk, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$49,430
+1% in Norfolk, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
32.4 yr
+0.6 yr in Norfolk, VA
Homeownership
46.9%
45.7%
+1.2 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
32.7%
+3.1 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Avg Commute
21.1 min
22.9 min
+1.8 min in Norfolk, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
479.5
+57% in Norfolk, VA
Property Crime
1,756.3
3,800.7
+116% in Norfolk, VA

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
61.3°F
+7.2°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
44.8 in
+15.9 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.86/gal
+7% in Norfolk, VA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
17.6
+24% in Norfolk, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$23.66
+42% in Norfolk, VA

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 / VA)
5%
5.3%
+0.3 pp in VA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
5.75%
+2.8 pp in VA

Baton Rouge vs Norfolk — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Norfolk?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Norfolk, VA's $1,230, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Norfolk?
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 Norfolk.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Norfolk?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Norfolk under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).