Cost of Living Comparison Between Baton Rouge, LA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Baton Rouge, LA and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Baton Rouge, LA is 16.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 15.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Baton Rouge, LA is 15.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 30.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Baton Rouge, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.78 $14.78
$20.82 $20.82
-29.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9 $53.9
$100 $100
-46.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.91 $9.91
$11.97 $11.97
-17.21%
Cappuccino
$6.2 $6.2
$5.56 $5.56
11.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 $1.94
$3.11 $3.11
-37.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 $1.28
$2.42 $2.42
-47.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.13 $5.13
$6.86 $6.86
-25.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.39 $6.39
$8.45 $8.45
-24.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Baton Rouge, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.04 $1.04
36.54%
White Bread (500g)
$2.94 $2.94
$4.15 $4.15
-29.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.32 $2.32
$5.52 $5.52
-57.97%
Eggs
$3.06 $3.06
$4.65 $4.65
-34.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.72 $13.72
$14.33 $14.33
-4.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.21 $11.21
$14.88 $14.88
-24.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.72 $16.72
$19.34 $19.34
-13.55%
Apples (1kg)
$5.42 $5.42
$5.17 $5.17
4.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.99 $1.99
$1.71 $1.71
16.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.41 $4.41
17.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.98 $3.98
$4.51 $4.51
-11.75%
Potato (1kg)
$3.04 $3.04
$2.53 $2.53
20.16%
Onion (1kg)
$2.72 $2.72
$2.74 $2.74
-0.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.22 $2.22
$2.43 $2.43
-8.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.8 $1.8
$2.7 $2.7
-33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.09 $11.09
$15.19 $15.19
-26.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.13 $9.13
$16.42 $16.42
-44.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 $1.91
$2.35 $2.35
-18.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 $2.91
$3.7 $3.7
-21.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Baton Rouge, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.73 $1.73
$2.53 $2.53
-31.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.2 $55.2
$74.1 $74.1
-25.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.9 $3.9
$3.34 $3.34
16.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.23 $1.23
$1.42 $1.42
-13.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$60.3 $60.3
$25.42 $25.42
137.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 $0.76
$1.08 $1.08
-29.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.5K $37.5K
$32.4K $32.4K
15.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$26.2K $26.2K
-3.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baton Rouge, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$137 $137
$188 $188
-27.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.85 $44.85
$63.7 $63.7
-29.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.7 $74.7
$65.2 $65.2
14.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Baton Rouge, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.9 $52.9
$76.7 $76.7
-31.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.98 $9.98
$13.03 $13.03
-23.41%
Cinema Ticket
$12.07 $12.07
$14.93 $14.93
-19.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Baton Rouge, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,940 $2,940
$2,063 $2,063
42.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.2K $10.2K
$39.2K $39.2K
-74.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Baton Rouge, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.11 $36.11
$64.3 $64.3
-43.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.79 $41.79
$52.4 $52.4
-20.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.8 $70.8
$95.2 $95.2
-25.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78 $78
$145 $145
-46.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Baton Rouge, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,345 $1,345
$2,378 $2,378
-43.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,362 $1,362
$1,584 $1,584
-14.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,026 $2,026
$4,763 $4,763
-57.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,908 $1,908
$2,815 $2,815
-32.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,708 $1,708
$3,588 $3,588
-52.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,704 $1,704
$2,490 $2,490
-31.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Baton Rouge, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,175 $3,175
$5,275 $5,275
-39.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.61
6.6
0.15%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Baton Rouge, LA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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