CostIndexUSA

Austin, TX vs Baton Rouge, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TX
Austin
98.1
overall index
$1,550/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Baton Rouge
90.8
overall index
$1,350/mo rent

Baton Rouge is moderately cheaper than Austin — 7.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Austin, you would need $74,000 in Baton Rouge. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−38.4%
Austin
120.4
Baton Rouge
74.2
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Austin
93.8
Baton Rouge
93.7
🚗 Transportation−0.6%
Austin
101.1
Baton Rouge
100.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Austin
91.4
Baton Rouge
90.9
⚡ Utilities−13.2%
Austin
82
Baton Rouge
71.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Baton Rouge, LA
$74,000
$6,000 less needed in Baton Rouge

Formula: salary × (90.8 ÷ 98.1) = salary × 0.9256. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Austin, TX

Median Home Price
$420,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,550
Housing Index
120.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.6×

Baton Rouge, LA

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

Austin has 38.4% lower housing costs compared to Baton Rouge.

Income & Job Market

Austin, TX

Median Household Income
$98,500
Per Capita Income
$56,100
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
978,908
Top Industries
TechnologyGovernmentHealthcareEducationEntertainment

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).

Austin, TX
5.3×income-to-rent ratio

81% of income left after rent (median)

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

75% of income left after rent (median)

Austin vs other cities

Austin, TX
vs
Abilene, TX
Index: 98.1Index: 90.4
Austin, TX
vs
Amarillo, TX
Index: 98.1Index: 91.8
Austin, TX
vs
Arlington, TX
Index: 98.1Index: 103.1
Austin, TX
vs
Jacksonville, FL
Index: 98.1Index: 99.5
Austin, TX
vs
San Jose, CA
Index: 98.1Index: 110.4

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.