CostIndexUSA

Baton Rouge, LA vs South Bend, IN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableLA
Baton Rouge
90.8
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
IN
South Bend
92.9
overall index
$1,375/mo rent

Baton Rouge is slightly cheaper than South Bend — 2.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Baton Rouge, you would need $81,800 in South Bend. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing≈ Equal
Baton Rouge
74.2
South Bend
74.6
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Baton Rouge
93.7
South Bend
94.2
🚗 Transportation+3.7%
Baton Rouge
100.5
South Bend
104.2
🏥 Healthcare+3.7%
Baton Rouge
90.9
South Bend
94.3
⚡ Utilities+23.2%
Baton Rouge
71.2
South Bend
87.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in South Bend, IN
$81,800
$1,800 more needed in South Bend

Formula: salary × (92.9 ÷ 90.8) = salary × 1.0231. 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×

South Bend, IN

Median Home Price
$221,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,375
Housing Index
74.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.4×

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

South Bend, IN

Median Household Income
$65,800
Per Capita Income
$37,500
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Population
103,453
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingFinanceRetail

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)

South Bend, IN
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% 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

South Bend vs other cities

South Bend, IN
vs
Bloomington, IN
Index: 92.9Index: 95.1
South Bend, IN
vs
Evansville, IN
Index: 92.9Index: 91.5
South Bend, IN
vs
Fort Wayne, IN
Index: 92.9Index: 92.6
South Bend, IN
vs
Wichita Falls, TX
Index: 92.9Index: 89.5
South Bend, IN
vs
Tyler, TX
Index: 92.9Index: 92.2

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.