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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $150K salary, 4 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 4 cities in Louisiana using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Shre…
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $150K salary, 4 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 4 cities in Louisiana using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Shreveport comes out on top — here's the full ranking and analysis.
A closer look at Shreveport: the cost index of 85 breaks down to a Housing index of 62 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 87 (weakest). And as far as the data shows, median rent is $1,170/month — 38% below the national median — while household income sits at $48,465, meaning locals spend about 29% of income on rent. That's within the recommended 30% threshold, though it doesn't leave much room.
On a $150K salary, the key number is $3,750/month — that's 30% of gross, the standard affordability line. Shreveport ($1,170/mo, 9%), Lafayette ($1,279/mo, 10%), Baton Rouge ($1,312/mo, 10%) all clear that bar. After federal tax, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax, estimated take-home ranges from $103,108 to $103,108/year across these top picks.
This next stat is the one to screenshot: 4 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $150K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $150K salary, 4 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices.
The same data, viewed through a different lens: Louisiana — Cajun culture and below-average costs. The 4 cities we track here average a cost index of 91 and median income of $53,801. It's a clear buyer's market compared to national norms. The typical rent runs $1,347/month, which is $548 less than the national median.
Bottom line: Shreveport leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
#1 Ranked: Shreveport — cost index 85, rent $1,170/mo, income $48,465
4 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $150K
4 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $150K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
177,959 residents · Louisiana
In plain English: the #1 spot goes to Shreveport, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,170/month — saving renters $8,700 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 62, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 87. A 29% rent-to-income ratio keeps most households inside the safe zone.
121,467 residents · Louisiana
A closer look at Lafayette: the cost index of 90 breaks down to a Housing index of 76 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 93 (weakest). Median rent is $1,279/month — 33% below the national median — while household income sits at $61,454, meaning locals spend about 25% of income on rent. That's within the recommended 30% threshold, though it doesn't leave much room.
219,573 residents · Louisiana
Real talk: What does daily life actually cost in Baton Rouge? Start with the 32% rent-to-income ratio — stretched, especially for single earners. On the category level, Housing (index 78) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 94) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $49,944 and homes at $224,899 round out a profile that ranks #3 for clear reasons.
364,136 residents · Louisiana
The numbers for New Orleans are straightforward: 97 on the cost index, $1,625/month rent, $55,339 income. Not the most exciting entry in the list, but solid. That tracks.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $150K salary, 4 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices.
Rent in #1-ranked Shreveport has increased from $1,138 to $1,170/mo over the past 12 months — a 3% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time.
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shreveport | $1,170 | 9% | 85 | Details |
| 2 | Lafayette | $1,279 | 10% | 90 | Details |
| 3 | Baton Rouge | $1,312 | 10% | 91 | Details |
| 4 | New Orleans | $1,625 | 13% | 97 | Details |
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Shreveport | 4.25% | 9.55% | 0.51% | $103,108 |
2Lafayette | 4.25% | 9.55% | 0.51% | $103,108 |
3Baton Rouge | 4.25% | 9.55% | 0.51% | $103,108 |
4New Orleans | 4.25% | 9.55% | 0.51% | $103,108 |
We calculate what percentage of a $150K gross salary goes to median rent. Cities where rent consumes less of your paycheck rank higher. We also factor in estimated take-home pay after federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Shreveport ranks #1 in Louisiana for this analysis with a cost index of 85 and median income of $48,465.
Yes. On a $150K salary in Shreveport, rent would consume about 9% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. You're well within that guideline.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Shreveport (ranked #1) has a cost index of 85 and rent of $1,170/mo, while New Orleans (ranked #4) has a cost index of 97 and rent of $1,625/mo — a 12-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Shreveport is $1,170/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $725 below the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 4.25% state income tax, estimated take-home on $150K in Shreveport is approximately $103,108/year ($8,592/month). After median rent of $1,170/month, you'd have roughly $89,068/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Shreveport is $134,461, which is 2.8× the local median income. That's within the standard 3.5× affordability rule for most local earners. The national median home price is $467,370.
Louisiana has a 4.25% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 9.55%, and the effective property tax rate is 0.51%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.