Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,010/mo est.

vs
Tulsa

Oklahoma

$1,020/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 $1,020 in Tulsa, OK. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tulsa, OK, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $58,407 in Tulsa, OK — about 14% higher in Tulsa, OK. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
Tulsa, OK

Rent

Studio
$881
$786
+11% in Baton Rouge, LA
1 Bedroom
$854
$847
+1% in Baton Rouge, LA
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$1,045
+3% in Baton Rouge, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$1,265
+2% in Tulsa, OK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$189,600
+16% in Baton Rouge, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$58,407
+17% in Tulsa, OK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$46,670
+4% in Baton Rouge, LA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
35.5 yr
+3.7 yr in Tulsa, OK
Homeownership
46.9%
52.0%
+5.1 pp in Tulsa, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
33.3%
+2.5 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Avg Commute
21.1 min
18.7 min
+2.4 min in Baton Rouge, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
948.9
+211% in Tulsa, OK
Property Crime
1,756.3
3,664.6
+109% in Tulsa, OK

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
60.1°F
+8.4°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
43.7 in
+16.9 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Tulsa, OK

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
13.4
+5% in Baton Rouge, LA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$27.15
+63% in Tulsa, OK

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 / OK)
5%
4.5%
+0.5 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
4.50%
+1.5 pp in OK

Baton Rouge vs Tulsa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Tulsa?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Tulsa, OK's $1,020, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Tulsa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $34,000 in Tulsa.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Tulsa?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Tulsa under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% 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).