Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,000/mo est.

vs
South Burlington

Vermont

$1,790/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,000 in Baton Rouge, LA versus $1,790 in South Burlington, VT. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 44% cheaper to live in day-to-day than South Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $97,229 in South Burlington, VT — about 49% higher in South Burlington, VT. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
South Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio
$881
$1,557
+77% in South Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$854
$1,533
+80% in South Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$1,805
+68% in South Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$2,356
+90% in South Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$399,600
+78% in South Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$97,229
+95% in South Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$60,020
+23% in South Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
38.8 yr
+7.0 yr in South Burlington, VT
Homeownership
46.9%
60.1%
+13.2 pp in South Burlington, VT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
65.1%
+29.3 pp in South Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
21.1 min
18.9 min
+2.2 min in Baton Rouge, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
239.4
+22% in Baton Rouge, LA
Property Crime
1,756.3
4,446
+153% in South Burlington, VT

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
46.0°F
+22.5°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
36.8 in
+23.8 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in South Burlington, VT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.5
24.4
+81% in South Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$26.07
+57% in South Burlington, VT

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / VT)
5%
6%
+1.0 pp in VT
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
8.75%
+5.8 pp in VT

Baton Rouge vs South Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or South Burlington?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 44% below South Burlington, VT's $1,790, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in South Burlington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $61,000 in South Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or South Burlington?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); South Burlington under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% 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).