CostIndexUSA

Baton Rouge, LA vs Springfield, MO Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

LA
Baton Rouge
90.8
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
More AffordableMO
Springfield
88.6
overall index
$1,275/mo rent

Springfield is slightly cheaper than Baton Rouge — 2.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Baton Rouge, you would need $78,100 in Springfield. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing11.6%
Baton Rouge
74.2
Springfield
65.6
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Baton Rouge
93.7
Springfield
94.2
🚗 Transportation2.8%
Baton Rouge
100.5
Springfield
97.7
🏥 Healthcare2.8%
Baton Rouge
90.9
Springfield
88.4
Utilities+20.5%
Baton Rouge
71.2
Springfield
85.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Springfield, MO
$78,100
$1,900 less needed in Springfield

Formula: salary × (88.6 ÷ 90.8) = salary × 0.9758. 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×

Springfield, MO

Median Home Price
$260,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,275
Housing Index
65.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.0×

Baton Rouge has 11.6% lower housing costs compared to Springfield.

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

Springfield, MO

Median Household Income
$62,900
Per Capita Income
$35,900
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
167,882
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingRetailFinance

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)

Springfield, MO
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.