Baton Rouge, LA vs Metairie, LA

Baton Rouge is moderately more affordable than Metairie, with a 11.2% lower cost of living index. Baton Rouge scores 82 compared to 92 for Metairie, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Metairie can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Baton Rouge is $1,044/month compared to $1,159/month in Metairie — a 10% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Baton Rouge is more affordable at $224,500 median vs $308,900.

Median household income in Baton Rouge is $49,944 compared to $73,256 in Metairie (-31.8%). While Metairie is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Baton Rouge spend roughly 25.1% of their income on rent, more than the 19% in Metairie.