Cost of Living in Baton Rouge, LA
| Cost of Living in Baton Rouge, LA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 11% higher | 8% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 15% lower | 26% lower |
| Food | 3% higher | 1% lower |
| Healthcare | 4% lower | 5% lower |
| Transportation | 14% higher | 6% higher |
| Goods & Services | 9% higher | 5% higher |
The cost of living in Baton Rouge, LA is 7% higher than the state average and 3% lower than the national average. Baton Rouge, LA housing is 8% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 26% less pricey. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 5% more in Baton Rouge, LA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 5% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 5% less here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 5% pricier in Baton Rouge, LA.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Baton Rouge is $1,219, while home prices circle around $418,897.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Baton Rouge, energy bills cost around $104.20 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $2.99 in Baton Rouge, a dozen eggs go for around $2.85 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.16.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Baton Rouge, an optometry check-up costs around $99.63, while a dentist appointment is priced $112.75 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.49 in Baton Rouge, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $76.11.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $29.07 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $38.66.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Baton Rouge, you should budget around $12.50 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $20.08, while dry cleaning costs about $13.53.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Baton Rouge, the median household income is $46,282.