Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,010/mo est.

vs
Richmond

Virginia

$1,390/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 $1,390 in Richmond, VA. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Richmond, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $62,671 in Richmond, VA — about 20% higher in Richmond, 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
Richmond, VA

Rent

Studio
$881
$1,183
+34% in Richmond, VA
1 Bedroom
$854
$1,195
+40% in Richmond, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$1,374
+28% in Richmond, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$1,447
+17% in Richmond, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$328,100
+46% in Richmond, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$62,671
+25% in Richmond, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$51,460
+6% in Richmond, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
34.5 yr
+2.7 yr in Richmond, VA
Homeownership
46.9%
43.5%
+3.4 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
44.1%
+8.3 pp in Richmond, VA
Avg Commute
21.1 min
22.1 min
+1.0 min in Richmond, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
349
+14% in Richmond, VA
Property Crime
1,756.3
3,240.2
+84% in Richmond, 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
58.9°F
+9.6°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
43.6 in
+17.0 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

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

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

Utilities

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

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Richmond?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Richmond, VA's $1,390, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Richmond?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $48,000 in Richmond.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Richmond?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Richmond 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).