Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,010/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/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 $2,150 in Washington, DC. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 53% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 53% higher in Washington, DC. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$881
$1,763
+100% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$854
$1,885
+121% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$1,949
+81% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$2,249
+81% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$724,600
+223% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$106,287
+113% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$71,060
+46% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
34.9 yr
+3.1 yr in Washington, DC
Homeownership
46.9%
41.1%
+5.8 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
63.6%
+27.8 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
21.1 min
30.3 min
+9.2 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
936.3
+207% in Washington, DC
Property Crime
1,756.3
3,627.9
+107% in Washington, DC

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
58.2°F
+10.3°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
39.7 in
+20.9 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.86/gal
+7% in Washington, DC

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
25.4
+80% in Washington, DC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$22.01
+32% in Washington, DC

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 / DC)
5%
6%
+1.0 pp in DC
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
10.75%
+7.8 pp in DC

Baton Rouge vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Washington?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 53% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Washington?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% 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).