CostIndexUSA

Baton Rouge, LA vs Virginia Beach, VA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableLA
Baton Rouge
90.8
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
VA
Virginia Beach
97.9
overall index
$1,800/mo rent

Baton Rouge is moderately cheaper than Virginia Beach — 7.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Baton Rouge, you would need $86,300 in Virginia Beach. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+34.5%
Baton Rouge
74.2
Virginia Beach
99.8
🛒 Groceries+3.3%
Baton Rouge
93.7
Virginia Beach
96.8
🚗 Transportation+3.0%
Baton Rouge
100.5
Virginia Beach
103.5
🏥 Healthcare+3.1%
Baton Rouge
90.9
Virginia Beach
93.7
Utilities+25.8%
Baton Rouge
71.2
Virginia Beach
89.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Virginia Beach, VA
$86,300
$6,300 more needed in Virginia Beach

Formula: salary × (97.9 ÷ 90.8) = salary × 1.0782. 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×

Virginia Beach, VA

Median Home Price
$360,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,800
Housing Index
99.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.7×

Virginia Beach has 34.5% 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

Virginia Beach, VA

Median Household Income
$79,300
Per Capita Income
$45,200
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
459,470
Top Industries
MilitaryTourismHealthcareRetailGovernment

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)

Virginia Beach, VA
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.