Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,010/mo est.

vs
Wilmington

Delaware

$1,230/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 $1,230 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Wilmington, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 10% higher in Wilmington, DE. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$881
$1,103
+25% in Wilmington, DE
1 Bedroom
$854
$1,024
+20% in Wilmington, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$1,213
+13% in Wilmington, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$1,394
+12% in Wilmington, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$224,500
about equal

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$55,269
+11% in Wilmington, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$54,310
+11% in Wilmington, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
37.0 yr
+5.2 yr in Wilmington, DE
Homeownership
46.9%
46.0%
+0.9 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
33.1%
+2.7 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Avg Commute
21.1 min
23.0 min
+1.9 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
1,138.2
+273% in Wilmington, DE
Property Crime
1,756.3
3,182.4
+81% in Wilmington, DE

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
54.9°F
+13.6°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
43.1 in
+17.6 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.86/gal
+7% in Wilmington, DE

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
19.4
+37% in Wilmington, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$22.51
+35% in Wilmington, DE

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 / DE)
5%
None
+5.0 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
6.60%
+3.6 pp in DE

Baton Rouge vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Wilmington?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Wilmington, DE's $1,230, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Wilmington?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).