Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Provo?

Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Provo, UT's $1,120, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Provo?

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 Provo.

Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Provo?

Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Provo under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax).

Baton Rouge vs Provo Cost of Living 2026

Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,000/mo est.

Provo

Utah

$1,120/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 $1,120 in Provo, UT. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Provo, UT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $62,800 in Provo, UT — about 20% higher in Provo, UT. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA

Provo, UT

Rent

Studio

$881

$1,009

+15% in Provo, UT

1 Bedroom

$854

$978

+15% in Provo, UT

2 Bedroom

$1,075

$1,128

+5% in Provo, UT

3 Bedroom

$1,241

$1,381

+11% in Provo, UT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$224,500

$437,100

+95% in Provo, UT

Income

Median Household Income

$49,944

$62,800

+26% in Provo, UT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,710

$48,010

+1% in Baton Rouge, LA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

31.8 yr

23.7 yr

+8.1 yr in Baton Rouge, LA

Homeownership

46.9%

39.9%

+7.0 pp in Baton Rouge, LA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.8%

45.0%

+9.2 pp in Provo, UT

Avg Commute

21.1 min

18.5 min

+2.6 min in Baton Rouge, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

305

205.7

+33% in Baton Rouge, LA

Property Crime

1,756.3

1,280.6

+27% in Baton Rouge, 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

53.4°F

+15.1°F in Baton Rouge, LA

Annual Precipitation

60.6 in

19.8 in

+40.9 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$4.27/gal

+18% in Provo, UT

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.5

13.4

+1% in Baton Rouge, LA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$16.62

$11.84

+29% in Baton Rouge, LA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Provo, UT

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Provo, UT

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Baton Rouge, LA

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Provo, UT

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Provo, UT

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Provo, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / UT)

6.1%

+1.1 pp in UT

Income Tax (top rate)

3.00%

4.50%

+1.5 pp in UT

Baton Rouge vs Provo — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Provo?: Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Provo, UT's $1,120, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Provo?: 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 Provo.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Provo?: Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Provo under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).