What is the cost of living in Baton Rouge, LA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Baton Rouge has an overall cost of living index of 100, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Louisiana, Baton Rouge has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Louisiana's index of 91.
The standard of living in Baton Rouge ranks as #76 most affordable out of the 103 places we measured in Louisiana. By definition, that implies Baton Rouge ranks as the #27 most expensive place in the Pelican State.
For more reading on life in Baton Rouge, check out:
Baton Rouge Cost Of Living Vs. Louisiana
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Baton Rouge. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Baton Rouge is 103.
The Groceries index in Baton Rouge is 97.
The Health index in Baton Rouge is 97.
The Housing index in Baton Rouge is 101.
The Transportation index in Baton Rouge is 101.
The Utilities index in Baton Rouge is 95.
| Living Expense | Baton Rouge | Louisiana | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 100 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 103 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 97 | 82 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 96 | 100 |
Baton Rouge Cost Of Living Compared To Louisiana Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Louisiana, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Baton Rouge Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Baton Rouge, LA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Louisiana, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Baton Rouge is $228,414.
The Median Rent in Baton Rouge is $1,067.
The Median Income in Baton Rouge is $49,994.
The Home Value To Income in Baton Rouge is 4.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Baton Rouge is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Baton Rouge | Louisiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $228,414 | $211,634 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,067 | $1,064 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $49,994 | $60,756 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.6x | 3.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.21x | 0.21x |
Baton Rouge, LA Costs By Category
Detailed Baton Rouge Services costs vs. Louisiana
| Item | Baton Rouge | Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.17 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.59 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $20.0 | $18 |
| Haircut | $25.61 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $43.33 | $45.56 |
Detailed Baton Rouge Groceries costs vs. Louisiana
| Item | Baton Rouge | Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.45 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.67 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.56 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.2 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.99 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.03 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.63 | $3.7 |
Detailed Baton Rouge Health costs vs. Louisiana
| Item | Baton Rouge | Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $114.13 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $130.33 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $114.58 | $113.29 |
Detailed Baton Rouge Transportation costs vs. Louisiana
| Item | Baton Rouge | Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.2 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.61 | $59.92 |
Detailed Baton Rouge Utilities costs vs. Louisiana
| Item | Baton Rouge | Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $111.88 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $185.7 | $192.25 |
Baton Rouge SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Baton Rouge
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Baton Rouge. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Prairieville, LA has a cost of living index of 110, 1.1x Baton Rouge.
Central, LA has a cost of living index of 105, 1.1x Baton Rouge.
Zachary, LA has a cost of living index of 108, 1.1x Baton Rouge.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Baton Rouge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prairieville, LA | 35,238 | 110 | 1.1x |
| Central, LA | 29,783 | 105 | 1.1x |
| Zachary, LA | 19,952 | 108 | 1.1x |
| Shenandoah, LA | 17,998 | 106 | 1.1x |
| Baker, LA | 12,253 | 91 | 0.9x |
| Gardere, LA | 12,223 | 99 | 1.0x |
| Merrydale, LA | 9,490 | 92 | 0.9x |
| Oak Hills Place, LA | 9,038 | 121 | 1.2x |
| Village St. George, LA | 8,273 | 107 | 1.1x |
| St. Gabriel, LA | 6,639 | 95 | 0.9x |
