Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,000/mo est.

vs
West Valley City

Utah

$1,330/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 $1,330 in West Valley City, UT. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than West Valley City, UT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $88,604 in West Valley City, UT — about 44% higher in West Valley City, UT. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
West Valley City, UT

Rent

Studio
$881
$1,085
+23% in West Valley City, UT
1 Bedroom
$854
$1,191
+39% in West Valley City, UT
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$1,333
+24% in West Valley City, UT
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$1,723
+39% in West Valley City, UT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$377,300
+68% in West Valley City, UT

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$88,604
+77% in West Valley City, UT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$55,240
+13% in West Valley City, UT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
30.3 yr
+1.5 yr in Baton Rouge, LA
Homeownership
46.9%
71.1%
+24.2 pp in West Valley City, UT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
15.7%
+20.1 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Avg Commute
21.1 min
22.2 min
+1.1 min in West Valley City, UT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
471.8
+55% in West Valley City, UT
Property Crime
1,756.3
1,855.5
+6% in West Valley City, UT

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
52.8°F
+15.7°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
16.1 in
+44.5 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$4.27/gal
+18% in West Valley City, UT

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.5
13.4
+1% in Baton Rouge, LA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$11.84
+29% in Baton Rouge, LA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in West Valley City, UT
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in West Valley City, UT
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Baton Rouge, LA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in West Valley City, UT
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in West Valley City, UT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in West Valley City, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / UT)
5%
6.1%
+1.1 pp in UT
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
4.50%
+1.5 pp in UT

Baton Rouge vs West Valley City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or West Valley City?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below West Valley City, UT's $1,330, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in West Valley City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $48,000 in West Valley City.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or West Valley City?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); West Valley City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).