Rent vs Buy in Baton Rouge, LA
Monthly cost of renting vs owning a median-priced home · 30-yr fixed, 20% down
Rent and buy are roughly balanced in Baton Rouge, LA
Price-to-rent ratio is 15.8 (under 15 favors buying, over 21 favors renting). Renting costs $1,222/mo; owning runs about $1,734/mo — $512/mo more to own.
| Monthly cost to own | Amount |
|---|---|
| Mortgage (P&I, 6.95% rate) | $1,231 |
| Property tax | $213 |
| Home insurance | $97 |
| Maintenance | $194 |
| Total to own | $1,734 |
| Average 2BR rent | $1,222 |
Based on a median home value of $232,391 with a $46,478 down payment. Owning also builds equity over time, which a monthly comparison doesn't capture. Estimates use national averages for taxes, insurance and maintenance — your actual costs will vary.