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Baltimore, MD vs Baton Rouge, LA

Moving from Baltimore to Baton Rouge? Here's what changes — from your equivalent salary to housing ($405,877 → $248,176 median home) and taxes.

Baltimore vs Baton Rouge at a glance

Bars scaled to the range across all 200 metros; labels show actual values.

Baltimore, MD Baton Rouge, LA Cost-of-living index Baltimore, MD — Cost-of-living index: 103 103 Baton Rouge, LA — Cost-of-living index: 91 91 Median home price Baltimore, MD — Median home price: $406k $406k Baton Rouge, LA — Median home price: $248k $248k Price per sqft Baltimore, MD — Price per sqft: $214 $214 Baton Rouge, LA — Price per sqft: $124 $124 Median rent Baltimore, MD — Median rent: $1,919 $1,919 Baton Rouge, LA — Median rent: $1,393 $1,393 Combined sales tax Baltimore, MD — Combined sales tax: 6.0% 6.0% Baton Rouge, LA — Combined sales tax: 9.6% 9.6% Property tax rate Baltimore, MD — Property tax rate: 1.04% 1.04% Baton Rouge, LA — Property tax rate: 0.56% 0.56% Violent crime /100k Baltimore, MD — Violent crime /100k: 450 450 Baton Rouge, LA — Violent crime /100k: 630 630 Electricity ¢/kWh Baltimore, MD — Electricity ¢/kWh: 22.1 22.1 Baton Rouge, LA — Electricity ¢/kWh: 14.4 14.4 Avg commute (min) Baltimore, MD — Avg commute (min): 30 30 Baton Rouge, LA — Avg commute (min): 27 27 Avg summer high °F Baltimore, MD — Avg summer high °F: 88° 88° Baton Rouge, LA — Avg summer high °F: 92° 92° Avg winter low °F Baltimore, MD — Avg winter low °F: 27° 27° Baton Rouge, LA — Avg winter low °F: 43° 43°

To keep the same standard of living as $100,000 in Baltimore, MD, you'd need about $88,418 in Baton Rouge, LA (−$11,582).

Livability — Baltimore, MD: 57 · Baton Rouge, LA: 69 (0–100).

What your home budget buys

A $500,000 home budget gets you about 2,341 sqft in Baltimore vs 4,029 sqft in Baton Rouge ($214 vs $124 per sqft).

Annual cost breakdown (at $100,000)

CategoryBaltimore, MDBaton Rouge, LADifference
Housing $23,028 $16,716 −$6,312
Groceries $5,075 $4,650 −$425
Transportation $3,685 $4,475 +$790
Utilities $2,388 $1,560 −$828
Insurance $1,400 $3,500 +$2,100
Taxes $11,584 $8,854 −$2,730
Total $47,160 $39,755 −$7,405

Side by side

MetricBaltimore, MDBaton Rouge, LA
Cost-of-living index103.291.2
Unemployment rate4.86%6.51%
Population growth (5-yr)1.7%5.0%
Air quality (median AQI)4753
Big Mac price (est.)$5.87$5.19
Median home price$405,877$248,176
Home price ÷ income4.3×3.7×
1-yr home appreciation0.8%1.5%
Price per square foot$214$124
Median rent$1,919$1,393
Total tax burden (% income)11.3%9.1%
Combined sales tax6.00%9.56%
Capital gains tax5.75%4.25%
Property tax rate1.04%0.56%
Healthcare (annual)$7,200$6,600
Childcare (annual, infant)$16,000$8,000
Vehicle property taxNone0.10%
Avg commute (min)3027
Home insurance / yr$1,400$3,500
Auto insurance / yr$1,900$2,900
Flood insurance / yr$750$1,000
Earthquake insurance / yr$100$100
Electricity ¢/kWh22.114.4
Gas $/gal3.302.95
Violent crime /100k450630
Avg summer high °F8892
Avg winter low °F2743
Permit difficulty (1–5)42
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