CostIndexUSA

Baton Rouge, LA vs El Paso, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

LA
Baton Rouge
90.8
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
More AffordableTX
El Paso
89.9
overall index
$1,500/mo rent

El Paso is slightly cheaper than Baton Rouge — 1.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Baton Rouge, you would need $79,200 in El Paso. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing4.0%
Baton Rouge
74.2
El Paso
71.2
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Baton Rouge
93.7
El Paso
93.8
🚗 Transportation+0.6%
Baton Rouge
100.5
El Paso
101.1
🏥 Healthcare+0.6%
Baton Rouge
90.9
El Paso
91.4
Utilities+16.0%
Baton Rouge
71.2
El Paso
82.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in El Paso, TX
$79,200
$800 less needed in El Paso

Formula: salary × (89.9 ÷ 90.8) = salary × 0.9901. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Baton Rouge, LA

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

El Paso, TX

Median Home Price
$226,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
71.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.6×

Baton Rouge has 4.0% lower housing costs compared to El Paso.

Income & Job Market

Baton Rouge, LA

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

El Paso, TX

Median Household Income
$59,000
Per Capita Income
$33,600
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
678,815
Top Industries
GovernmentMilitaryHealthcareRetailManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

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

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

75% of income left after rent (median)

El Paso, TX
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

69% of income left after rent (median)

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.