CostIndexUSA

Baton Rouge, LA vs Fort Collins, CO Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableLA
Baton Rouge
90.8
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
CO
Fort Collins
101.1
overall index
$1,875/mo rent

Baton Rouge is moderately cheaper than Fort Collins — 11.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Baton Rouge, you would need $89,100 in Fort Collins. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+62.5%
Baton Rouge
74.2
Fort Collins
120.6
🛒 Groceries+2.6%
Baton Rouge
93.7
Fort Collins
96.1
🚗 Transportation+4.3%
Baton Rouge
100.5
Fort Collins
104.8
🏥 Healthcare+4.3%
Baton Rouge
90.9
Fort Collins
94.8
Utilities+15.4%
Baton Rouge
71.2
Fort Collins
82.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Fort Collins, CO
$89,100
$9,100 more needed in Fort Collins

Formula: salary × (101.1 ÷ 90.8) = salary × 1.1134. 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×

Fort Collins, CO

Median Home Price
$540,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,875
Housing Index
120.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.0×

Fort Collins has 62.5% higher housing costs compared to Baton Rouge.

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

Fort Collins, CO

Median Household Income
$88,200
Per Capita Income
$50,300
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
164,672
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationHealthcareAgricultureManufacturing

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)

Fort Collins, CO
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.