Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,010/mo est.

vs
Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,510/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 $1,510 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 39% higher in Raleigh, NC. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio
$881
$1,301
+48% in Raleigh, NC
1 Bedroom
$854
$1,323
+55% in Raleigh, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$1,462
+36% in Raleigh, NC
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$1,715
+38% in Raleigh, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$377,800
+68% in Raleigh, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$82,424
+65% in Raleigh, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$51,990
+7% in Raleigh, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
34.7 yr
+2.9 yr in Raleigh, NC
Homeownership
46.9%
51.2%
+4.3 pp in Raleigh, NC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
52.9%
+17.1 pp in Raleigh, NC
Avg Commute
21.1 min
23.4 min
+2.3 min in Raleigh, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
491.5
+61% in Raleigh, NC
Property Crime
1,756.3
2,838.4
+62% in Raleigh, NC

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
60.6°F
+7.9°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
46.0 in
+14.6 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.86/gal
+7% in Raleigh, NC

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.25

Adult base one-way fare — — vs GoRaleigh (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
15.1
+7% in Raleigh, NC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$27.56
+66% in Raleigh, NC

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 / NC)
5%
4.75%
+0.3 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
3.99%
+1.0 pp in NC

Baton Rouge vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Raleigh?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Raleigh?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $53,000 in Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Raleigh?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).