Baton Rouge, LA vs New Orleans, LA: sales tax compared
Quick answer
Baton Rouge, LA is the higher-tax metro at 10%, versus 9.45% in New Orleans, LA. The 0.55% gap works out to $0.55 on a $100 purchase, $5.50 on $1,000 and $137.50 on a $25,000 purchase.
- Rate gap
- 0.55%Percentage points, combined rate
- Extra tax on $1,000
- $5.50Paid in Baton Rouge
- Extra tax on $25,000
- $137.50Vehicle-sized purchase
Baton Rouge, LA
East Baton Rouge Parish
10%
Combined rate · ranked #5 of 94 covered metros
| Level | Jurisdiction | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| state | Louisiana state | 5% |
| county | East Baton Rouge Parish and city | 5% |
- Population
- 221,453
- Median household income
- $51,255
East Baton Rouge Parish collects city and parish tax jointly; rates differ inside and outside the city limits and in special districts.
New Orleans, LA
Orleans Parish
9.45%
Combined rate · ranked #10 of 94 covered metros
| Level | Jurisdiction | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| state | Louisiana state | 5% |
| county | Orleans Parish and school board | 4.45% |
- Population
- 364,136
- Median household income
- $51,116
Louisiana parishes collect their own sales tax locally, and Orleans Parish's combined local rate is among the highest in the nation.
How the difference is calculated
Same arithmetic the calculator on every page runs.
Each combined rate is the sum of its listed state, county, city and special-district components — no rounding is applied before the total. The dollar gap is the rate difference (0.55%) applied to the pre-tax amount: 0.55% of $1,000 is $5.50. Neither figure includes product-specific exemptions; groceries, clothing and digital goods can be taxed at a different rate or not at all, which is covered on each state's rules page.
Questions people ask
Direct answers to the questions this comparison raises.
Which has a higher sales tax rate, Baton Rouge or New Orleans?
Baton Rouge, LA at 10%, versus 9.45% in New Orleans, LA.
How much more sales tax would I pay in Baton Rouge on a $1,000 purchase?
About $5.50 more, and roughly $137.50 more on a $25,000 vehicle-sized purchase.
Why do Baton Rouge and New Orleans have different rates?
The state share is 5% in LA and 5% in LA. The rest comes from county, city and special-district increments stacked on top, which are set locally and listed in full on this page.