City comparison
Baton Rouge, LA vs Lexington, KY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Lexington, KY are 2.3% higher than in Baton Rouge, LA. Someone earning $100,000 in Baton Rouge, LA would need about $102,300 in Lexington, KY to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,064 a month in Baton Rouge, LA and $1,079 in Lexington, KY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $769 a year higher in Lexington, KY than in Baton Rouge, LA.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Baton Rouge, LA to Lexington, KY changes real buying power by −2.3%, purely from prices.
- Baton Rouge, LA: price level 90.8 (much cheaper)
- Lexington, KY: price level 92.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Baton Rouge, LA | Lexington, KY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 90.8 | 92.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $102,323 in Lexington | $97,730 in Baton Rouge |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,064/mo | $1,079/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,566 | $75,798 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $2,614 (LA) | $3,382 (KY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,710 | $48,620 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Baton Rouge, LA HUD Metro FMR Area and Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA. Metro areas: Baton Rouge, LA and Lexington-Fayette, KY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Baton Rouge | Lexington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 74.2 | 77.1 |
| Goods | 93.7 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 71.2 | 74.6 |
| Other services | 95.7 | 96.9 |
| Overall | 90.8 | 92.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Baton Rouge, LA → Lexington, KY
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.3%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$769/yr.
62 Fair offer
Lexington, KY → Baton Rouge, LA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.3%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$769/yr.
76 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Baton Rouge, LA to Lexington, KY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Baton Rouge, LA | Lexington, KY | Real change, Baton Rouge → Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −2.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −2.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −2.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −2.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −2.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Baton Rouge, LA | Lexington, KY | Lexington pay in Baton Rouge dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,310 | $61,460 | $60,065 (+1.3%) |
| Software Developers | $101,900 | $123,510 | $120,706 (+18.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $73,070 | $77,780 | $76,014 (+4.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,130 | $79,040 | $77,245 (−4.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.