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 23.7% more expensive than Baton Rouge, LA without rent, and 21.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 30.5% more expensive than Baton Rouge, LA without rent, and 35.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Baton Rouge, LA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.53 $20.53
$15.06 $15.06
36.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 $102
$54.2 $54.2
87.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.03 $12.03
$9.98 $9.98
20.54%
Cappuccino
$5.62 $5.62
$6.10 $6.10
-7.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 $3.07
$1.98 $1.98
55.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.27 $1.27
90.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.98 $6.98
$4.90 $4.90
42.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.10 $8.10
$6.36 $6.36
27.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Baton Rouge, LA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.41 $1.41
-23.40%
White Bread (500g)
$3.95 $3.95
$3.00 $3.00
31.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$2.29 $2.29
141.05%
Eggs
$4.55 $4.55
$3.02 $3.02
50.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.58 $14.58
$13.41 $13.41
8.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.91 $14.91
$11.13 $11.13
33.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.83 $18.83
$16.64 $16.64
13.16%
Apples (1kg)
$5.34 $5.34
$5.35 $5.35
-0.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.76 $1.76
$2.08 $2.08
-15.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.39 $4.39
$5.18 $5.18
-15.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$3.94 $3.94
10.91%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.91 $2.91
-12.37%
Onion (1kg)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.81 $2.81
-1.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.46 $2.46
$2.18 $2.18
12.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 $2.66
$1.84 $1.84
44.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.74 $14.74
$10.99 $10.99
34.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.17 $15.17
$19.11 $19.11
-20.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.45 $2.45
$1.91 $1.91
28.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 $3.68
$2.75 $2.75
33.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Baton Rouge, LA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.52 $2.52
$1.72 $1.72
46.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.5 $74.5
$57.1 $57.1
30.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.29 $3.29
$4.09 $4.09
-19.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.43 $1.43
$1.22 $1.22
17.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.86 $24.86
$59.0 $59.0
-57.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$0.79 $0.79
37.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.3K $31.3K
$37.4K $37.4K
-16.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K $26.8K
$25.0K $25.0K
7.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Baton Rouge, LA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 $187
$136 $136
37.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.4 $62.4
$44.39 $44.39
40.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.1 $67.1
$73.7 $73.7
-8.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Baton Rouge, LA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$75.2 $75.2
$51.4 $51.4
46.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.17 $13.17
$10.12 $10.12
30.14%
Cinema Ticket
$15.21 $15.21
$11.79 $11.79
29.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Baton Rouge, LA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,039 $2,039
$2,996 $2,996
-31.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.3K $39.3K
$9,851 $9,851
299.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Baton Rouge, LA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.0 $64.0
$35.97 $35.97
77.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.6 $50.6
$43.04 $43.04
17.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.4 $95.4
$72.7 $72.7
31.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 $144
$78.5 $78.5
82.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Baton Rouge, LA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,355 $2,355
$1,313 $1,313
79.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,613 $1,613
$1,356 $1,356
18.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,728 $4,728
$2,072 $2,072
128.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,754 $2,754
$1,873 $1,873
47.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,803 $3,803
$1,778 $1,778
113.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,580 $2,580
$1,767 $1,767
45.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Baton Rouge, LA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,738 $4,738
$3,249 $3,249
45.85%
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: April 14, 2026

Last update for Baton Rouge, LA: April 11, 2026

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

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