CostIndexUSA

Baton Rouge, LA vs Lawrence, KS Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

LA
Baton Rouge
90.8
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
More AffordableKS
Lawrence
90.2
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

Lawrence is slightly cheaper than Baton Rouge — 0.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Baton Rouge, you would need $79,500 in Lawrence. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−3.5%
Baton Rouge
74.2
Lawrence
71.6
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Baton Rouge
93.7
Lawrence
94
🚗 Transportation−2.0%
Baton Rouge
100.5
Lawrence
98.5
🏥 Healthcare−2.0%
Baton Rouge
90.9
Lawrence
89.1
⚡ Utilities+25.4%
Baton Rouge
71.2
Lawrence
89.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Lawrence, KS
$79,500
$500 less needed in Lawrence

Formula: salary × (90.2 ÷ 90.8) = salary × 0.9934. 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×

Lawrence, KS

Median Home Price
$320,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
71.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.1×

Baton Rouge has 3.5% lower housing costs compared to Lawrence.

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

Lawrence, KS

Median Household Income
$67,000
Per Capita Income
$38,200
Unemployment Rate
5.2%
Population
98,004
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyRetailManufacturing

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)

Lawrence, KS
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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

Lawrence vs other cities

Lawrence, KS
vs
Overland Park, KS
Index: 90.2Index: 92.5
Lawrence, KS
vs
Topeka, KS
Index: 90.2Index: 88.8
Lawrence, KS
vs
Wichita, KS
Index: 90.2Index: 88.9
Lawrence, KS
vs
Albany, NY
Index: 90.2Index: 99.6
Lawrence, KS
vs
Roanoke, VA
Index: 90.2Index: 93.6

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.