CostIndexUSA

Albuquerque, NM vs Baton Rouge, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NM
Albuquerque
95.5
overall index
$1,525/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Baton Rouge
90.8
overall index
$1,350/mo rent

Baton Rouge is slightly cheaper than Albuquerque — 4.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Albuquerque, you would need $76,100 in Baton Rouge. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing−16.8%
Albuquerque
89.2
Baton Rouge
74.2
🛒 Groceries−2.5%
Albuquerque
96.1
Baton Rouge
93.7
🚗 Transportation−2.9%
Albuquerque
103.5
Baton Rouge
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−2.9%
Albuquerque
93.6
Baton Rouge
90.9
⚡ Utilities−8.6%
Albuquerque
77.9
Baton Rouge
71.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Albuquerque to see what you'd need to earn in Baton Rouge to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
→
Equivalent salary in Baton Rouge, LA
$76,100
$3,900 less needed in Baton Rouge

Formula: salary × (90.8 ÷ 95.5) = salary × 0.9508. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Albuquerque, NM

Median Home Price
$340,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,525
Housing Index
89.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.6×

Baton Rouge, LA

Median Home Price
$240,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,350
Housing Index
74.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

Albuquerque has 16.8% lower housing costs compared to Baton Rouge.

Income & Job Market

Albuquerque, NM

Median Household Income
$67,600
Per Capita Income
$38,500
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
564,559
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareEducationMilitaryTechnology

Baton Rouge, LA

Median Household Income
$64,600
Per Capita Income
$36,800
Unemployment Rate
4.6%
Population
227,470
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareGovernmentEducationManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Albuquerque, NM
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Baton Rouge, LA
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Albuquerque vs other cities

Albuquerque, NM
vs
Las Cruces, NM
Index: 95.5Index: 90.2
Albuquerque, NM
vs
Santa Fe, NM
Index: 95.5Index: 98.8
Albuquerque, NM
vs
Milwaukee, WI
Index: 95.5Index: 96.9
Albuquerque, NM
vs
Baltimore, MD
Index: 95.5Index: 104.5
Albuquerque, NM
vs
Tucson, AZ
Index: 95.5Index: 96.9

Baton Rouge vs other cities

Baton Rouge, LA
vs
Lafayette, LA
Index: 90.8Index: 87.2
Baton Rouge, LA
vs
Lake Charles, LA
Index: 90.8Index: 85.9
Baton Rouge, LA
vs
Monroe, LA
Index: 90.8Index: 83.6
Baton Rouge, LA
vs
Richmond, VA
Index: 90.8Index: 97.9
Baton Rouge, LA
vs
Santa Clarita, CA
Index: 90.8Index: 113.6

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.