Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,010/mo est.

vs
Tampa

Florida

$1,500/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 $1,500 in Tampa, FL. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tampa, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $71,302 in Tampa, FL — about 30% higher in Tampa, FL. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
Tampa, FL

Rent

Studio
$881
$1,242
+41% in Tampa, FL
1 Bedroom
$854
$1,324
+55% in Tampa, FL
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$1,673
+56% in Tampa, FL
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$1,729
+39% in Tampa, FL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$375,300
+67% in Tampa, FL

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$71,302
+43% in Tampa, FL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$48,940
+0% in Tampa, FL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
35.6 yr
+3.8 yr in Tampa, FL
Homeownership
46.9%
50.2%
+3.3 pp in Tampa, FL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
44.6%
+8.8 pp in Tampa, FL
Avg Commute
21.1 min
24.7 min
+3.6 min in Tampa, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
443.2
+45% in Tampa, FL
Property Crime
1,756.3
1,473.2
+16% in Baton Rouge, LA

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
73.4°F
+4.9°F in Tampa, FL
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
46.3 in
+14.4 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.77/gal
+4% in Tampa, FL

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
15.2
+7% in Tampa, FL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$23.62
+42% in Tampa, FL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / FL)
5%
6%
+1.0 pp in FL
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
None
+3.0 pp in LA

Baton Rouge vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Tampa?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Tampa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $53,000 in Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Tampa?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Tampa under Florida's (no state income tax 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).