CostIndexUSA

Baton Rouge, LA vs Sioux City, IA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

LA
Baton Rouge
90.8
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
More AffordableIA
Sioux City
86.5
overall index
$1,150/mo rent

Sioux City is slightly cheaper than Baton Rouge — 4.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Baton Rouge, you would need $76,200 in Sioux City. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−22.1%
Baton Rouge
74.2
Sioux City
57.8
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Baton Rouge
93.7
Sioux City
94
🚗 Transportation−3.1%
Baton Rouge
100.5
Sioux City
97.4
🏥 Healthcare−3.1%
Baton Rouge
90.9
Sioux City
88.1
⚡ Utilities+16.2%
Baton Rouge
71.2
Sioux City
82.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Sioux City, IA
$76,200
$3,800 less needed in Sioux City

Formula: salary × (86.5 ÷ 90.8) = salary × 0.9526. 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×

Sioux City, IA

Median Home Price
$211,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,150
Housing Index
57.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.3×

Baton Rouge has 22.1% lower housing costs compared to Sioux City.

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

Sioux City, IA

Median Household Income
$70,700
Per Capita Income
$40,300
Unemployment Rate
3%
Population
82,684
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingAgricultureRetailEducation

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)

Sioux City, IA
5.1×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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

Sioux City vs other cities

Sioux City, IA
vs
Cedar Rapids, IA
Index: 86.5Index: 89
Sioux City, IA
vs
Davenport, IA
Index: 86.5Index: 89.1
Sioux City, IA
vs
Des Moines, IA
Index: 86.5Index: 91.7
Sioux City, IA
vs
Longview, TX
Index: 86.5Index: 89.5
Sioux City, IA
vs
Lynchburg, VA
Index: 86.5Index: 89.4

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.