CostIndexUSA

Albany, NY vs Baton Rouge, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NY
Albany
99.6
overall index
$1,575/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Baton Rouge
90.8
overall index
$1,350/mo rent

Baton Rouge is moderately cheaper than Albany — 8.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Albany, you would need $72,900 in Baton Rouge. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−27.7%
Albany
102.6
Baton Rouge
74.2
🛒 Groceries−6.0%
Albany
99.7
Baton Rouge
93.7
🚗 Transportation−2.0%
Albany
102.6
Baton Rouge
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−2.2%
Albany
92.9
Baton Rouge
90.9
⚡ Utilities−46.9%
Albany
134
Baton Rouge
71.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Baton Rouge, LA
$72,900
$7,100 less needed in Baton Rouge

Formula: salary × (90.8 ÷ 99.6) = salary × 0.9116. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Albany, NY

Median Home Price
$350,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,575
Housing Index
102.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.5×

Baton Rouge, LA

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

Albany has 27.7% lower housing costs compared to Baton Rouge.

Income & Job Market

Albany, NY

Median Household Income
$82,400
Per Capita Income
$47,000
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
98,111
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareEducationFinanceTechnology

Baton Rouge, LA

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

Affordability at a Glance

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

Albany, NY
4.4×income-to-rent ratio

77% of income left after rent (median)

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

75% of income left after rent (median)

Albany vs other cities

Albany, NY
vs
Buffalo, NY
Index: 99.6Index: 95.8
Albany, NY
vs
New York, NY
Index: 99.6Index: 112.6
Albany, NY
vs
Rochester, NY
Index: 99.6Index: 97
Albany, NY
vs
Lawrence, KS
Index: 99.6Index: 90.2
Albany, NY
vs
Roanoke, VA
Index: 99.6Index: 93.6

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

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.