CostIndexUSA

Baton Rouge, LA vs Phoenix, AZ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableLA
Baton Rouge
90.8
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
AZ
Phoenix
103.3
overall index
$1,725/mo rent

Baton Rouge is moderately cheaper than Phoenix — 13.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Baton Rouge, you would need $91,000 in Phoenix. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+63.3%
Baton Rouge
74.2
Phoenix
121.2
🛒 Groceries+1.4%
Baton Rouge
93.7
Phoenix
95
🚗 Transportation+8.7%
Baton Rouge
100.5
Phoenix
109.2
🏥 Healthcare+8.7%
Baton Rouge
90.9
Phoenix
98.8
Utilities+31.0%
Baton Rouge
71.2
Phoenix
93.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Phoenix, AZ
$91,000
$11,000 more needed in Phoenix

Formula: salary × (103.3 ÷ 90.8) = salary × 1.1377. 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×

Phoenix, AZ

Median Home Price
$442,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,725
Housing Index
121.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.4×

Phoenix has 63.3% 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

Phoenix, AZ

Median Household Income
$85,700
Per Capita Income
$48,800
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
1,608,139
Top Industries
TechnologyHealthcareReal EstateTourismFinance

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)

Phoenix, AZ
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.