Suffolk County, MA vs East Baton Rouge Parish, LA: Cost of Living Difference

Is it cheaper?

East Baton Rouge Parish, LA is cheaper than Suffolk County, MA.

Moving to East Baton Rouge Parish, LA is estimated to save $32,316 per year.

Cheaper cost of living

Cheaper County

East Baton Rouge Parish, LASave about $32,316 per year.

Salary needed

$50,000 in Suffolk County, MA is about $30,240 in East Baton Rouge Parish, LA.

Biggest drivers

Healthcare increases by $676 per year. Housing saves $15,090 per year.

Housing: $15,090 lower in East Baton Rouge Parish, LA

Taxes: $11,059 lower in East Baton Rouge Parish, LA

Childcare: about the same in both counties

Healthcare: $676 higher in East Baton Rouge Parish, LA

Food: $912 lower in East Baton Rouge Parish, LA

Transport: $964 lower in East Baton Rouge Parish, LA

Suffolk County, MAEast Baton Rouge Parish, LA
Equivalent salary in East Baton Rouge Parish, LA
$30,240
-39.52% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Suffolk County, MA: $110,193
Median Income in East Baton Rouge Parish, LA: $84,053
Living Index in Suffolk County, MA 74.20%
Living Index in East Baton Rouge Parish, LA 58.83%

This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Suffolk County, MA to East Baton Rouge Parish, LA.

* Living index is estimated as (estimated total cost / area median income) * 100. A living index above 100% means modeled costs exceed median income.

Cost of Living Breakdown by Category

Summary

Moving from Suffolk County, MA to East Baton Rouge Parish, LA is estimated to save $32,316 per year. A $50,000 salary in Suffolk County, MA would have similar purchasing power to about $30,240 in East Baton Rouge Parish, LA. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.

This is a -39.52% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $15,090 per year lower (-54.04%); Taxes is $11,059 per year lower (-54.34%).

Below we break down the annual categories behind the difference using Economic Policy Institute 2026 Family Budget data.

Why this comparison matters

These notes use the actual annual cost differences between Suffolk County, MA and East Baton Rouge Parish, LA, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.

Salary needed

A $50,000 salary in Suffolk County, MA would need to be about $30,240 in East Baton Rouge Parish, LA, or $19,760 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.

Affordability vs median income

Modeled annual costs equal about 74.2% of median family income in Suffolk County, MA and 58.8% in East Baton Rouge Parish, LA. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.

Housing

Housing is $15,090 per year lower in East Baton Rouge Parish, LA than in Suffolk County, MA. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether East Baton Rouge Parish, LA changes their baseline budget.

Food

Food is $912 per year lower in East Baton Rouge Parish, LA than in Suffolk County, MA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in East Baton Rouge Parish, LA can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.

Transportation

Transportation is $964 per year lower in East Baton Rouge Parish, LA than in Suffolk County, MA. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around East Baton Rouge Parish, LA.

Healthcare

Healthcare is $676 per year higher in East Baton Rouge Parish, LA than in Suffolk County, MA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if East Baton Rouge Parish, LA changes provider networks or plan options.

Other necessities

Other necessities is $4,968 per year lower in East Baton Rouge Parish, LA than in Suffolk County, MA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in East Baton Rouge Parish, LA help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.

Childcare

Childcare is about the same in Suffolk County, MA and East Baton Rouge Parish, LA, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in East Baton Rouge Parish, LA, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.

Taxes

Taxes is $11,059 per year lower in East Baton Rouge Parish, LA than in Suffolk County, MA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in East Baton Rouge Parish, LA matters even if the headline salary looks similar before deductions.

What changed the most?

The following cards show the annual category differences that most affect the move to East Baton Rouge Parish, LA.

Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to East Baton Rouge Parish, LA
Annual Increase:

$676 per year

HEALTHCARE has the largest annual increase when moving to East Baton Rouge Parish, LA.

Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to East Baton Rouge Parish, LA
Annual Savings:

$15,090 per year

HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to East Baton Rouge Parish, LA.

Breakdown of price percentages per category.

Numbers are average costs per section.

CategoryDifference
Housing-54% lower
Food-18% lower
Transport-7% lower
Healthcare13% higher
Other Costs-48% lower
Childcare0% higher
Taxes-54% lower

In East Baton Rouge Parish, LA, modeled annual costs are $49,449 compared with $81,765 in Suffolk County, MA.

Overall, annual costs are lower in East Baton Rouge Parish, LA. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.

In this case East Baton Rouge Parish, LA and Suffolk County, MA are both metropolitan locations.

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Cost of living methodology and data sources
Suffolk County, MA vs East Baton Rouge Parish, LA Cost of Living