Home › LA › Baton Rouge, LA Cost of living in Baton Rouge, LA Livability score 69 · cost-of-living index 91.2 (US = 100)
How Baton Rouge compares Where Baton Rouge falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 91 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 91 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $248k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $248k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $124 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $124 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 9.6% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 9.6% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.56% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.56% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 630 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 630 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 14.4 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 14.4 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 92° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 92° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 43° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 43° Map of Baton Rouge Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
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Cost of living Metric Value Scope US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 91.2 metro-area #43 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 93.0 metro-area #16 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.19 metro-area #40 of 200 Median household income $67,979 metro-area #119 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $41,016 metro-area #89 of 200
Who lives here Metric Value Scope US rank Median age 36.0 years metro-area #41 of 200 Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 30.0% metro-area #132 of 200 Foreign-born residents 5.1% metro-area #162 of 200 Homes that are owner-occupied 69.1% metro-area #57 of 200
Economy Metric Value Scope US rank Unemployment rate 6.51% metro-area #172 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +5.0% metro-area #82 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value Scope US rank Median home price $248,176 metro-area #42 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 3.7× metro-area #29 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +1.5% metro-area #99 of 200 Price per square foot $124 metro-area #35 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 2,000 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,393 metro-area #50 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 3,573 Median days on market 30 metro-area #151 of 200
Taxes Metric Value Scope US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 9.1% state #38 of 200 Combined sales tax 9.56% state #195 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 3.00% Capital gains tax 4.25% state #78 of 200 High earners No special surtax Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits Effective property tax rate 0.56% metro-area #28 of 200 Median property tax paid $1,258 metro-area #22 of 200
Health & childcare Metric Value Scope US rank Life expectancy at birth 73.7 years metro-area #176 of 200 Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,600 state #65 of 200 Uninsured (share of residents) 7.3% metro-area #80 of 200 Primary care providers per 100k 59 metro-area #171 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $8,000 state #14 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value Scope US rank Annual registration $100 state #83 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) 0.10% of value (~$28/yr) state #105 of 200 Emissions testing Not required Emissions detail No vehicle emissions testing DMV & license offices 12 Avg commute to work 27 min metro-area #162 of 200 Commute by driving alone 81.4% metro-area #187 of 200 Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 40.5% metro-area #165 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value Scope US rank Electricity 14.4¢/kWh state #27 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $130 state #27 of 200 Gasoline $2.95/gal state #3 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $52 state #23 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $108 state #115 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $76 state #20 of 200
Insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Home insurance (annual) $3,500 state #160 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $2,900 state #181 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 89.3 — Relatively Moderate metro-area #97 of 200 Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $1,000 state #179 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 state #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value Scope US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 53 metro-area #157 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 2,900 metro-area #158 of 200 Homes with air conditioning (state) 93% state #87 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 1,500 metro-area #23 of 200 Days per year ≥ 90°F 92 metro-area #177 of 200 Days per year ≥ 100°F 1 metro-area #105 of 200 Avg summer high (state) 92°F metro-area #163 of 200 Avg winter low 43°F metro-area #39 of 200 Annual precipitation 63.4" metro-area #196 of 200 Annual snowfall 0.0" metro-area #1 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 57% metro-area #121 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 9a Frost window 02-10 → 12-15
Safety Metric Value Scope US rank Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 630 state #191 of 200 Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 3,000 state #186 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value Scope US rank Grocery stores 36 metro-area #130 of 200 Parks 60 Hiking areas 4 Golf courses 19 Shooting ranges 4 Lakes 4
Permits Metric Value Scope US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 2 state #1 of 200 Permit detail Generally easy
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
Top employers in Baton Rouge Major public and private employers in the Baton Rouge, LA area.
Employer Sector Jobs ExxonMobil Baton Rouge Energy Careers → Baton Rouge General Medical Center Healthcare Search → Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana insurance Search → BASF Corporation Manufacturing Careers → Louisiana State Government Government Search → Baton Rouge City Parish Government Search →
Salaries by occupation in Baton Rouge Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
Occupation Median pay Dentists $172,420 Mechanical Engineers $130,490 Pharmacists $128,110 Physician Assistants $123,290 Marketing Managers $116,640 Civil Engineers $110,110 Construction Managers $108,340 Financial Managers $106,940 Lawyers $106,590 General & Operations Managers $104,680 Human Resources Managers $100,310 Physical Therapists $98,690 Software Developers $96,260 Dental Hygienists $83,370 Registered Nurses $75,670 Welders, Cutters & Solderers $70,010 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $69,590 Data Scientists $68,730 Accountants & Auditors $67,790 Electricians $61,390 Web Developers $60,600 Elementary School Teachers $52,740 Carpenters $51,490 Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $49,820 Graphic Designers $47,810 Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $46,830 Real Estate Sales Agents $39,510 Medical Assistants $35,530
Find a job in Baton Rouge Cities in the Baton Rouge area
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts from Google Maps public listings.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.
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