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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,513 in Baton Rouge, LA versus $3,068 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,494 in Baton Rouge, LA versus $4,648 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,475 in Baton Rouge, LA versus $6,229 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Baton Rouge, LA costs roughly 18% less than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Baton Rouge, LA 88% above, Chicago, IL 130% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.91 $14.91

$20.17 $20.17

-26.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.5 $55.5

$99.5 $99.5

-44.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.83 $9.83

$12.23 $12.23

-19.62%

Cappuccino

$5.94 $5.94

$5.60 $5.60

6.07%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$3.12 $3.12

-36.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.24 $1.24

$2.43 $2.43

-48.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.07 $5.07

$6.93 $6.93

-26.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.49 $6.49

$8.20 $8.20

-20.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.08 $1.08

26.85%

White Bread (500g)

$2.96 $2.96

$3.97 $3.97

-25.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.38 $2.38

$5.58 $5.58

-57.35%

Eggs

$3.08 $3.08

$4.47 $4.47

-31.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.43 $13.43

$14.50 $14.50

-7.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.21 $11.21

$15.08 $15.08

-25.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.77 $16.77

$19.34 $19.34

-13.29%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$5.37 $5.37

-2.79%

Banana (1kg)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.76 $1.76

15.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.12 $5.12

$4.32 $4.32

18.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$4.41 $4.41

-12.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.90 $2.90

$2.54 $2.54

14.17%

Onion (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.70 $2.70

0.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.49 $2.49

-12.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.60 $2.60

-31.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.78 $10.78

$14.80 $14.80

-27.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.13 $19.13

$15.18 $15.18

26.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.47 $2.47

-26.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 $2.78

$3.60 $3.60

-22.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.54 $2.54

-32.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.0 $55.0

$76.3 $76.3

-27.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.05 $4.05

$3.30 $3.30

22.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.38 $1.38

-12.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$60.6 $60.6

$25.36 $25.36

138.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.09 $1.09

-25.69%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$37.3K $37.3K

$31.6K $31.6K

17.94%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.2K $25.2K

$26.6K $26.6K

-5.10%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$137 $137

$186 $186

-26.31%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$44.32 $44.32

$62.9 $62.9

-29.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.1 $72.1

$66.2 $66.2

8.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.2 $53.2

$77.6 $77.6

-31.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.12 $10.12

$13.16 $13.16

-23.10%

Cinema Ticket

$12.06 $12.06

$14.74 $14.74

-18.18%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$3,040 $3,040

$2,039 $2,039

49.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.1K $10.1K

$39.9K $39.9K

-74.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.55 $36.55

$63.9 $63.9

-42.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.38 $42.38

$51.2 $51.2

-17.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.8 $70.8

$95.2 $95.2

-25.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.2 $78.2

$144 $144

-45.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,317 $1,317

$2,305 $2,305

-42.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,384 $1,384

$1,575 $1,575

-12.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,061 $2,061

$4,688 $4,688

-56.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,874 $1,874

$2,737 $2,737

-31.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,760 $1,760

$4,063 $4,063

-56.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,770 $1,770

$2,696 $2,696

-34.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,280 $3,280

$5,019 $5,019

-34.66%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,317 in Baton Rouge, LA and $2,305 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 53% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $55.0 in Baton Rouge, LA vs $99.0 in Chicago, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $387 vs $448 per month, with Baton Rouge, LA cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Baton Rouge, LA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baton Rouge, LA and Chicago, IL differ by about 22% in total monthly costs ($2,513 vs $3,068 including rent). Baton Rouge, LA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 53% lower in Chicago, IL. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,317 in Baton Rouge, LA versus $2,305 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Baton Rouge, LA runs roughly 39% less than in Chicago, IL. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $3,040 in Baton Rouge, LA versus $2,039 in Chicago, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $2,513 in Baton Rouge, LA versus $3,068 in Chicago, IL, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Baton Rouge, LA but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Baton Rouge, LA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Baton Rouge, LA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.