CostIndexUSA

Baton Rouge, LA vs Little Rock, AR Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

LA
Baton Rouge
90.8
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
More AffordableAR
Little Rock
89.4
overall index
$1,200/mo rent

Little Rock is slightly cheaper than Baton Rouge — 1.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Baton Rouge, you would need $78,800 in Little Rock. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−8.0%
Baton Rouge
74.2
Little Rock
68.3
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Baton Rouge
93.7
Little Rock
93.6
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Baton Rouge
100.5
Little Rock
100.1
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Baton Rouge
90.9
Little Rock
90.5
⚡ Utilities+4.8%
Baton Rouge
71.2
Little Rock
74.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Little Rock, AR
$78,800
$1,200 less needed in Little Rock

Formula: salary × (89.4 ÷ 90.8) = salary × 0.9846. 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×

Little Rock, AR

Median Home Price
$222,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,200
Housing Index
68.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.4×

Baton Rouge has 8.0% lower housing costs compared to Little Rock.

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

Little Rock, AR

Median Household Income
$66,200
Per Capita Income
$37,700
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
202,591
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareRetailFinanceManufacturing

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)

Little Rock, AR
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

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

Little Rock vs other cities

Little Rock, AR
vs
Fayetteville, AR
Index: 89.4Index: 91.4
Little Rock, AR
vs
Fort Smith, AR
Index: 89.4Index: 85.9
Little Rock, AR
vs
Jonesboro, AR
Index: 89.4Index: 85.9
Little Rock, AR
vs
Augusta, GA
Index: 89.4Index: 91.9
Little Rock, AR
vs
Oxnard, CA
Index: 89.4Index: 110.5

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.