CostIndexUSA

Baton Rouge, LA vs Lansing, MI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableLA
Baton Rouge
90.8
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
MI
Lansing
95
overall index
$1,300/mo rent

Baton Rouge is slightly cheaper than Lansing — 4.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Baton Rouge, you would need $83,700 in Lansing. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+12.5%
Baton Rouge
74.2
Lansing
83.5
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Baton Rouge
93.7
Lansing
93.7
🚗 Transportation+4.0%
Baton Rouge
100.5
Lansing
104.5
🏥 Healthcare+4.1%
Baton Rouge
90.9
Lansing
94.6
Utilities+34.1%
Baton Rouge
71.2
Lansing
95.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lansing, MI
$83,700
$3,700 more needed in Lansing

Formula: salary × (95 ÷ 90.8) = salary × 1.0463. 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×

Lansing, MI

Median Home Price
$234,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
83.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.0×

Lansing has 12.5% higher housing costs compared to Baton Rouge.

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

Lansing, MI

Median Household Income
$70,000
Per Capita Income
$39,900
Unemployment Rate
4.6%
Population
112,644
Top Industries
GovernmentAutomotiveHealthcareEducationFinance

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)

Lansing, MI
4.5×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.