SalaryCompareTool

Baton Rouge, LA vs Baltimore, MD

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

Baton Rouge vs Baltimore at a glance

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

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

To keep the same standard of living as $100,000 in Baton Rouge, LA, you'd need about $113,099 in Baltimore, MD (+$13,099).

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

What your home budget buys

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

Annual cost breakdown (at $100,000)

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

Side by side

MetricBaton Rouge, LABaltimore, MD
Cost-of-living index91.2103.2
Unemployment rate6.51%4.86%
Population growth (5-yr)5.0%1.7%
Air quality (median AQI)5347
Big Mac price (est.)$5.19$5.87
Median home price$248,176$405,877
Home price ÷ income3.7×4.3×
1-yr home appreciation1.5%0.8%
Price per square foot$124$214
Median rent$1,393$1,919
Total tax burden (% income)9.1%11.3%
Combined sales tax9.56%6.00%
Capital gains tax4.25%5.75%
Property tax rate0.56%1.04%
Healthcare (annual)$6,600$7,200
Childcare (annual, infant)$8,000$16,000
Vehicle property tax0.10%None
Avg commute (min)2730
Home insurance / yr$3,500$1,400
Auto insurance / yr$2,900$1,900
Flood insurance / yr$1,000$750
Earthquake insurance / yr$100$100
Electricity ¢/kWh14.422.1
Gas $/gal2.953.30
Violent crime /100k630450
Avg summer high °F9288
Avg winter low °F4327
Permit difficulty (1–5)24

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