Overall
90.8
-9.2 below avg
2024 BEA RPP All 4 categories Federal source
Baton Rouge, LA
Cost-of-living indicators for Baton Rouge, LA, compiled from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2024 data year). Categories include All Items, Goods, Services, and Rents.
CBSA: 12940 · Data year: 2024 · Rank: #276 of 387
Baton Rouge, LA has a cost of living index of 90.8, meaning it's 9.2% less expensive than the national average. Goods cost 6.3% less, services 28.8% less, and rents are 25.8% below average. A $100K national salary has the purchasing power of $110,156 here.
What the Numbers Mean for Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge ranks #276 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the lower half by cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 90.8, Baton Rouge, LA is 9.2% less expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Baton Rouge's most and least expensive categories — the priciest line item versus services at 71.2 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.
Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $110,156 inside Baton Rouge, while a household needs roughly $90,780 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 74.2 — 25.8% below the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.
Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Baton Rouge's overall index has fallen by 2.4 points, improving relative affordability. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 93.7 and services at 71.2, meaning everyday spending in Baton Rouge is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.
Baton Rouge Cost Index at a Glance
Baton Rouge all-items cost index
Regional Price Parity vs national average (100)
Baton Rouge category breakdown
BEA RPP composition by goods, services, rents, overall
Price Index Summary
Goods
93.7
-6.3 below avg
Services
71.2
-28.8 below avg
Rents
74.2
-25.8 below avg
Price Index vs National Average (100)
Overall
National avg
Index 90.8 (-9.2 vs national avg)
Goods
National avg
Index 93.7 (-6.3 vs national avg)
Services
National avg
Index 71.2 (-28.8 vs national avg)
Rents
National avg
Index 74.2 (-25.8 vs national avg)
Vertical line on each bar = national average (100)
Cost Breakdown Analysis
Below National Average
Services -28.8% (71.2)
Rents -25.8% (74.2)
Overall -9.2% (90.8)
Goods -6.3% (93.7)
Income Adequacy in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge income adequacy score
$75,000 median income vs RPP 90.8
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$90,780
in Baton Rouge, LA purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$45,390
$75,000 nationally
$68,085
$125,000 nationally
$113,475
$150,000 nationally
$136,170
$200,000 nationally
$181,560
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has been trending downward, decreasing by 2.4 points over this period.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 93.1 |
| 2009 | 91.8 |
| 2010 | 93.4 |
| 2011 | 94.6 |
| 2012 | 94.2 |
| 2013 | 94.9 |
| 2014 | 94.7 |
| 2015 | 94.7 |
| 2016 | 95.6 |
| 2017 | 93.9 |
| 2018 | 92.8 |
| 2019 | 92.8 |
| 2020 | 93.1 |
| 2021 | 93.2 |
| 2022 | 92.4 |
| 2023 | 91.2 |
| 2024 | 90.8 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Baton Rouge, LA's index of 90.8.
Other LA Metros
Related Data for Baton Rouge
Salary Data
BLS occupation wages for Baton Rouge area
Fair Market Rents
HUD rent data for Baton Rouge metro
Crime Rates
FBI UCR crime data near Baton Rouge
School Districts
NCES school data for Baton Rouge area
ZIP Code Data
Census demographics for Baton Rouge area
Life Score
Quality-of-life composite rating
Relocation Guide
7-dimension relocation intelligence
Cost of Living Guides
Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026
Official BEA data on the most affordable areas
Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings
What drives high costs and how to cope
Salary Negotiation Using RPP Data
Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations
Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Baton Rouge, LA? ▼
Baton Rouge, LA has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 90.8, meaning it is 9.2% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 93.7, services at 71.2, and rents at 74.2. It ranks #276 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Baton Rouge, LA to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $90,780 in Baton Rouge, LA. Conversely, $100K earned in Baton Rouge, LA has the purchasing power of $110,156 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Baton Rouge, LA? ▼
Rents in Baton Rouge, LA are indexed at 74.2, which is 25.8% below the national average. This makes the area relatively affordable for renters.
Is Baton Rouge, LA getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Baton Rouge, LA's overall cost index changed by -2.4 points (from 93.1 to 90.8). The cost of living has been declining.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Baton Rouge, LA? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Rochester, Fargo, Saginaw. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Baton Rouge, LA's 90.8.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.
Related
Data sourced from official U.S. government datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — cost-of-living indices by metro and state. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — inflation context by metro. bls.gov/cpi
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — housing-cost component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage component. bls.gov/oes
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS — household income + demographics. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) — tax-burden context. irs.gov/statistics
