Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,010/mo est.

vs
San Francisco

California

$2,750/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 $2,750 in San Francisco, CA. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 63% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Francisco, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $141,446 in San Francisco, CA — about 65% higher in San Francisco, CA. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
San Francisco, CA

Rent

Studio
$881
$1,560
+77% in San Francisco, CA
1 Bedroom
$854
$2,425
+184% in San Francisco, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$2,982
+177% in San Francisco, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$3,269
+163% in San Francisco, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$1,380,500
+515% in San Francisco, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$141,446
+183% in San Francisco, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$74,260
+52% in San Francisco, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
39.7 yr
+7.9 yr in San Francisco, CA
Homeownership
46.9%
38.5%
+8.4 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
60.1%
+24.3 pp in San Francisco, CA
Avg Commute
21.1 min
31.2 min
+10.1 min in San Francisco, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
596.5
+96% in San Francisco, CA
Property Crime
1,756.3
3,962.2
+126% in San Francisco, CA

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
57.3°F
+11.2°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
23.6 in
+37.0 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$5.43/gal
+50% in San Francisco, CA

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs San Francisco.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
33.3
+135% in San Francisco, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$20.72
+25% in San Francisco, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in San Francisco, CA
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in San Francisco, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Baton Rouge, LA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in San Francisco, CA
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in San Francisco, CA
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in San Francisco, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / CA)
5%
7.25%
+2.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
13.30%
+10.3 pp in CA

Baton Rouge vs San Francisco — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or San Francisco?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 63% below San Francisco, CA's $2,750, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in San Francisco?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $97,000 in San Francisco.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or San Francisco?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); San Francisco under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).