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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 19.2% more expensive than Baton Rouge, LA without rent, and 17.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 18.2% more expensive than Baton Rouge, LA without rent, and 43% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Baton Rouge, LA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$14.78 $14.78
40.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$53.9 $53.9
86.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$9.91 $9.91
20.79%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$6.2 $6.2
-10.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$1.94 $1.94
60.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.28 $1.28
89.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.13 $5.13
33.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.39 $6.39
32.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Baton Rouge, LA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.42 $1.42
-26.76%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.94 $2.94
41.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$2.32 $2.32
137.93%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.06 $3.06
51.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$13.72 $13.72
4.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.21 $11.21
32.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$16.72 $16.72
15.67%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.42 $5.42
-4.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.99 $1.99
-14.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.17 $5.17
-14.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$3.98 $3.98
13.32%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.04 $3.04
-16.78%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.72 $2.72
0.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.22 $2.22
9.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.8 $1.8
50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$11.09 $11.09
36.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$9.13 $9.13
79.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.91 $1.91
23.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.91 $2.91
27.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Baton Rouge, LA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.73 $1.73
46.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$55.2 $55.2
34.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.9 $3.9
-14.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.23 $1.23
15.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$60.3 $60.3
-57.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.76 $0.76
42.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$37.5K $37.5K
-13.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.3K $25.3K
3.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Baton Rouge, LA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$137 $137
37.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$44.85 $44.85
42.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$74.7 $74.7
-12.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Baton Rouge, LA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$52.9 $52.9
44.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$9.98 $9.98
30.56%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.07 $12.07
23.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Baton Rouge, LA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$2,940 $2,940
-29.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$10.2K $10.2K
284.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Baton Rouge, LA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$36.11 $36.11
78.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$41.79 $41.79
25.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$70.8 $70.8
34.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$78 $78
85.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Baton Rouge, LA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,345 $1,345
76.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,362 $1,362
16.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,026 $2,026
135.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,908 $1,908
47.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$1,708 $1,708
110.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$1,704 $1,704
46.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Baton Rouge, LA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,175 $3,175
66.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.61
-0.15%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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

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