Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,010/mo est.

vs
Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Pittsburgh, PA. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Pittsburgh, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $64,137 in Pittsburgh, PA — about 22% higher in Pittsburgh, PA. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
Pittsburgh, PA

Rent

Studio
$881
$1,109
+26% in Pittsburgh, PA
1 Bedroom
$854
$1,079
+26% in Pittsburgh, PA
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$1,269
+18% in Pittsburgh, PA
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$1,450
+17% in Pittsburgh, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$193,200
+14% in Baton Rouge, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$64,137
+28% in Pittsburgh, PA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$49,650
+2% in Pittsburgh, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
33.5 yr
+1.7 yr in Pittsburgh, PA
Homeownership
46.9%
47.2%
+0.3 pp in Pittsburgh, PA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
47.8%
+12.0 pp in Pittsburgh, PA
Avg Commute
21.1 min
23.1 min
+2.0 min in Pittsburgh, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
436
+43% in Pittsburgh, PA
Property Crime
1,756.3
2,315.7
+32% in Pittsburgh, PA

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
51.8°F
+16.7°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
39.3 in
+21.4 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.86/gal
+7% in Pittsburgh, PA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
21.6
+52% in Pittsburgh, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$19.17
+15% in Pittsburgh, PA

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / PA)
5%
6%
+1.0 pp in PA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
3.07%
+0.1 pp in PA

Baton Rouge vs Pittsburgh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Pittsburgh?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Pittsburgh, PA's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Pittsburgh?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $43,000 in Pittsburgh.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Pittsburgh?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Pittsburgh under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% 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).