CostIndexUSA

Baton Rouge, LA vs San Francisco, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableLA
Baton Rouge
90.8
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
CA
San Francisco
115.6
overall index
$3,075/mo rent

Baton Rouge is significantly cheaper than San Francisco — 27.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Baton Rouge, you would need $101,800 in San Francisco. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+162.4%
Baton Rouge
74.2
San Francisco
194.7
🛒 Groceries+15.8%
Baton Rouge
93.7
San Francisco
108.5
🚗 Transportation+10.9%
Baton Rouge
100.5
San Francisco
111.5
🏥 Healthcare+11.0%
Baton Rouge
90.9
San Francisco
100.9
Utilities+142.4%
Baton Rouge
71.2
San Francisco
172.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in San Francisco, CA
$101,800
$21,800 more needed in San Francisco

Formula: salary × (115.6 ÷ 90.8) = salary × 1.2731. 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×

San Francisco, CA

Median Home Price
$1,090,000
Median Monthly Rent
$3,075
Housing Index
194.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
29.5×

San Francisco has 162.4% 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

San Francisco, CA

Median Household Income
$127,800
Per Capita Income
$72,800
Unemployment Rate
5%
Population
873,965
Top Industries
TechnologyFinanceTourismHealthcareMedia

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)

San Francisco, CA
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% 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.