Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,010/mo est.

vs
Seattle

Washington

$2,030/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 $2,030 in Seattle, WA. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 50% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $121,984 in Seattle, WA — about 59% higher in Seattle, WA. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
Seattle, WA

Rent

Studio
$881
$1,638
+86% in Seattle, WA
1 Bedroom
$854
$1,858
+118% in Seattle, WA
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$2,359
+119% in Seattle, WA
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$2,918
+135% in Seattle, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$912,100
+306% in Seattle, WA

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$121,984
+144% in Seattle, WA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$72,610
+49% in Seattle, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
35.5 yr
+3.7 yr in Seattle, WA
Homeownership
46.9%
44.2%
+2.7 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
67.5%
+31.7 pp in Seattle, WA
Avg Commute
21.1 min
26.6 min
+5.5 min in Seattle, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
788.6
+159% in Seattle, WA
Property Crime
1,756.3
5,108.8
+191% in Seattle, WA

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
53.5°F
+15.0°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
37.7 in
+22.9 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$5.31/gal
+47% in Seattle, WA

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Seattle.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs King County Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
14.9
+6% in Seattle, WA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$20.41
+23% in Seattle, WA

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / WA)
5%
6.5%
+1.5 pp in WA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
None
+3.0 pp in LA

Baton Rouge vs Seattle — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Seattle?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 50% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Seattle?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $74,000 in Seattle.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Seattle?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).