City comparison
Baton Rouge, LA vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 19.9% higher than in Baton Rouge, LA. Someone earning $100,000 in Baton Rouge, LA would need about $119,900 in Washington, DC to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $2,015 a month in Washington, DC versus $1,064 in Baton Rouge, LA. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 17% in Baton Rouge, LA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,918 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Baton Rouge, LA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +14.4% moving from Baton Rouge, LA to Washington, DC ($106,437 → $121,785), while prices change by +19.9%. Net effect of the transfer: −4.6% in real buying power.
- Baton Rouge, LA: price level 90.8 (much cheaper)
- Washington, DC: price level 108.9 (much pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Baton Rouge, LA | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 90.8 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $119,943 in Washington | $83,373 in Baton Rouge |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,064/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,566 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $2,614 (LA) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,710 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Baton Rouge, LA HUD Metro FMR Area and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Baton Rouge, LA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Baton Rouge | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 74.2 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 93.7 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 71.2 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 95.7 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 90.8 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Baton Rouge, LA → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −16.6%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$2,918/yr.
26 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Baton Rouge, LA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +19.9%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$2,918/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Baton Rouge, LA is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Baton Rouge, LA to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Baton Rouge, LA | Washington, DC | Real change, Baton Rouge → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $70,623 | −4.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $85,447 | −4.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $102,415 | −4.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $121,785 | −4.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $143,913 | −4.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Baton Rouge, LA | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Baton Rouge dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,310 | $79,470 | $66,257 (+11.7%) |
| Software Developers | $101,900 | $154,930 | $129,170 (+26.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $73,070 | $102,140 | $85,157 (+16.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,130 | $102,710 | $85,633 (+5.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.