CostIndexUSA

Baton Rouge, LA vs Mobile, AL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

LA
Baton Rouge
90.8
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
More AffordableAL
Mobile
88.1
overall index
$1,250/mo rent

Mobile is slightly cheaper than Baton Rouge — 3.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Baton Rouge, you would need $77,600 in Mobile. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing19.0%
Baton Rouge
74.2
Mobile
60.1
🛒 Groceries+2.9%
Baton Rouge
93.7
Mobile
96.4
🚗 Transportation+1.0%
Baton Rouge
100.5
Mobile
101.5
🏥 Healthcare+1.1%
Baton Rouge
90.9
Mobile
91.9
Utilities+18.3%
Baton Rouge
71.2
Mobile
84.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Mobile, AL
$77,600
$2,400 less needed in Mobile

Formula: salary × (88.1 ÷ 90.8) = salary × 0.9703. 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×

Mobile, AL

Median Home Price
$187,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,250
Housing Index
60.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.5×

Baton Rouge has 19.0% lower housing costs compared to Mobile.

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

Mobile, AL

Median Household Income
$55,400
Per Capita Income
$31,600
Unemployment Rate
3.1%
Population
187,041
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingLogisticsMilitaryAerospace

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)

Mobile, AL
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.