Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,010/mo est.

vs
Springfield

Missouri

$940/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 $940 in Springfield, MO. Overall, Springfield, MO is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Baton Rouge, LA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $45,984 in Springfield, MO — about 8% higher in Baton Rouge, LA. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
Springfield, MO

Rent

Studio
$881
$760
+14% in Baton Rouge, LA
1 Bedroom
$854
$772
+10% in Baton Rouge, LA
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$926
+14% in Baton Rouge, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$1,158
+7% in Baton Rouge, LA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$165,200
+26% in Baton Rouge, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$45,984
+8% in Baton Rouge, LA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$45,780
+6% in Baton Rouge, LA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
33.6 yr
+1.8 yr in Springfield, MO
Homeownership
46.9%
42.9%
+4.0 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
30.3%
+5.5 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Avg Commute
21.1 min
18.0 min
+3.1 min in Baton Rouge, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
1,189.8
+290% in Springfield, MO
Property Crime
1,756.3
4,231.6
+141% in Springfield, MO

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
56.3°F
+12.2°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
45.6 in
+15.1 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Springfield, MO

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
13.7
+3% in Baton Rouge, LA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$24.13
+45% in Springfield, MO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Springfield, MO
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Baton Rouge, LA
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Springfield, MO
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Springfield, MO
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Springfield, MO
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / MO)
5%
4.225%
+0.8 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
4.70%
+1.7 pp in MO

Baton Rouge vs Springfield — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Springfield?
Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Baton Rouge, LA's $1,010, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Springfield?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $31,000 in Springfield.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Springfield?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Springfield under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).