Uprootmap
Houston vs Baton Rouge
Houston and Baton Rouge
Photo: getmahesh / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 2.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Baton Rouge are above the US rate in this release, 17.9 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Houston to Baton Rouge
In 2022-2023, 464 households filed a move from Houston to Baton Rouge (about 851 people, average adjusted gross income $75,429). 957 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,188 in Houston and $1,065 in Baton Rouge. Houston has no state tax on wages. Baton Rouge has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Baton Rouge is 92% of the national level for the same work, against 102% in Houston.
Baton Rouge averages 230 sunny days, with July highs around 94°F and January nights around 45°F. Houston is 204 sunny days, 94°F in July, 45°F in January. Commutes average 27 minutes in Baton Rouge and 29 in Houston.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 464 households moved Houston → Baton Rouge (about 851 people, average AGI $75,429). 957 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Houston and Baton Rouge changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 308 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,850–$3,500
- Container or pod
- $1,250–$2,400
- Rent a truck
- $550–$1,000
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Dig into Baton Rouge
Questions
Is Baton Rouge cheaper than Houston after tax and rent?
Yes. Baton Rouge leaves about $30 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,188 in Houston and $1,065 in Baton Rouge.
Does Baton Rouge have state income tax?
Baton Rouge is in Louisiana, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Houston to Baton Rouge?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.