Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,010/mo est.

vs
Rochester

New York

$1,160/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 $1,160 in Rochester, NY. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rochester, NY, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $46,628 in Rochester, NY — about 7% higher in Baton Rouge, LA. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
Rochester, NY

Rent

Studio
$881
$750
+15% in Baton Rouge, LA
1 Bedroom
$854
$857
+0% in Rochester, NY
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$1,114
+4% in Rochester, NY
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$1,240
+0% in Baton Rouge, LA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$120,600
+46% in Baton Rouge, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$46,628
+7% in Baton Rouge, LA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$51,210
+5% in Rochester, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
33.5 yr
+1.7 yr in Rochester, NY
Homeownership
46.9%
37.2%
+9.7 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
29.9%
+5.9 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Avg Commute
21.1 min
18.9 min
+2.2 min in Baton Rouge, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
690
+126% in Rochester, NY
Property Crime
1,756.3
3,533.4
+101% in Rochester, NY

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
48.2°F
+20.3°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
34.3 in
+26.4 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$4.04/gal
+12% in Rochester, NY

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs New York.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
29.9
+112% in Rochester, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$22.74
+37% in Rochester, NY

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / NY)
5%
4%
+1.0 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
10.90%
+7.9 pp in NY

Baton Rouge vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Rochester?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Rochester, NY's $1,160, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Rochester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $34,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Rochester?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Rochester under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).