Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,000/mo est.

vs
Overland Park

Kansas

$1,410/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 $1,410 in Overland Park, KS. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Overland Park, KS, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $103,838 in Overland Park, KS — about 52% higher in Overland Park, KS. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
Overland Park, KS

Rent

Studio
$881
$1,270
+44% in Overland Park, KS
1 Bedroom
$854
$1,224
+43% in Overland Park, KS
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$1,589
+48% in Overland Park, KS
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$1,828
+47% in Overland Park, KS

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$384,400
+71% in Overland Park, KS

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$103,838
+108% in Overland Park, KS
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$50,820
+4% in Overland Park, KS

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
38.6 yr
+6.8 yr in Overland Park, KS
Homeownership
46.9%
61.5%
+14.6 pp in Overland Park, KS
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
62.9%
+27.1 pp in Overland Park, KS
Avg Commute
21.1 min
19.9 min
+1.2 min in Baton Rouge, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
188.4
+38% in Baton Rouge, LA
Property Crime
1,756.3
1,790.5
+2% in Overland Park, KS

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
55.2°F
+13.3°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
40.0 in
+20.6 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.85/gal
+6% in Overland Park, KS

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.5
15.7
+16% in Overland Park, KS
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$25.12
+51% in Overland Park, KS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Overland Park, KS
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Baton Rouge, LA
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Overland Park, KS
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Overland Park, KS
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Overland Park, KS
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / KS)
5%
6.5%
+1.5 pp in KS
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
5.58%
+2.6 pp in KS

Baton Rouge vs Overland Park — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Overland Park?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Overland Park, KS's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Overland Park?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $49,000 in Overland Park.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Overland Park?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Overland Park under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% 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).