CostIndexUSA

Baton Rouge, LA vs Cedar Rapids, 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
Cedar Rapids
89
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

Cedar Rapids is slightly cheaper than Baton Rouge — 2.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Baton Rouge, you would need $78,400 in Cedar Rapids. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−3.8%
Baton Rouge
74.2
Cedar Rapids
71.4
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Baton Rouge
93.7
Cedar Rapids
93.7
🚗 Transportation−2.9%
Baton Rouge
100.5
Cedar Rapids
97.6
🏥 Healthcare−2.9%
Baton Rouge
90.9
Cedar Rapids
88.3
⚡ Utilities+18.0%
Baton Rouge
71.2
Cedar Rapids
84

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Cedar Rapids, IA
$78,400
$1,600 less needed in Cedar Rapids

Formula: salary × (89 ÷ 90.8) = salary × 0.9802. 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×

Cedar Rapids, IA

Median Home Price
$230,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
71.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.4×

Baton Rouge has 3.8% lower housing costs compared to Cedar Rapids.

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

Cedar Rapids, IA

Median Household Income
$73,600
Per Capita Income
$42,000
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
133,562
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareFinanceTechnologyAgriculture

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)

Cedar Rapids, IA
5.6×income-to-rent ratio

82% 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

Cedar Rapids vs other cities

Cedar Rapids, IA
vs
Davenport, IA
Index: 89Index: 89.1
Cedar Rapids, IA
vs
Des Moines, IA
Index: 89Index: 91.7
Cedar Rapids, IA
vs
Iowa City, IA
Index: 89Index: 91.5
Cedar Rapids, IA
vs
Midland, TX
Index: 89Index: 95.8
Cedar Rapids, IA
vs
Columbia, SC
Index: 89Index: 93.7

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.