Loading
Assembling your view…
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 $30K salary, 0 cities (0%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market. We ran the numbers on 4 cities in Louisiana using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Shreveport com…
#1 Ranked: Shreveport — cost index 85, rent $1,170/mo, income $48,465
0 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $30K
0 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $30K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Shreveport | 4.25% | 9.55% | 0.51% | $23,062 |
2Lafayette | 4.25% | 9.55% | 0.51% | $23,062 |
3Baton Rouge | 4.25% | 9.55% | 0.51% | $23,062 |
4New Orleans | 4.25% | 9.55% | 0.51% | $23,062 |
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $30K salary, 0 cities (0%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market. 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 (that's pre-tax, of course).
On a $30K salary, the key number is $750/month — that's 30% of gross, the standard affordability line. Shreveport ($1,170/mo, 47%), Lafayette ($1,279/mo, 51%), Baton Rouge ($1,312/mo, 52%) all clear that bar. After federal tax, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax, estimated take-home ranges from $23,062 to $23,062/year across these top picks.
At $1,170/month — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — for rent and a cost index of 85, Shreveport is pretty much what you'd expect from a mid-size city in this part of the country. Income is $48,465. That tracks (that's pre-tax, of course).
It checks most boxes — but the healthcare costs are the asterisk. In Shreveport, the healthcare index sits at 87 — not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing about (that's pre-tax, of course).
This is the number that makes accountants do a double-take: 0 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $30K. And with some exceptions, the 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $30K salary, 0 cities (0%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market. That level of affordability is getting rarer every year (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
If you're ready to act on this, three things to do next: 1) Click into the city pages for the top 3 and check rent trends — direction matters more than the snapshot. 2) Run your income through the salary calculator for a personalized cost comparison. 3) Compare your top two picks head-to-head on our comparison page. The data is here; the decision is yours.
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shreveport | $1,170 | 47% | 85 | Details |
| 2 | Lafayette | $1,279 | 51% | 90 | Details |
| 3 | Baton Rouge | $1,312 | 52% | 91 | Details |
| 4 | New Orleans | $1,625 | 65% | 97 | Details |
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $30K salary, 0 cities (0%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market.
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.
177,959 residents · Louisiana
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
Here's Lafayette by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). And broadly, cost index: 90. Rent: $1,279/month. Income: $61,454/year. Home price: $219,057. Population: 121,467. The strongest category is Housing at 76; the most expensive is Healthcare at 93. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $7,392 per year vs. the national median. This is one of those rare cities where the math works from every angle (that's pre-tax, of course).
219,573 residents · Louisiana
Baton Rouge earns its position at #3 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 91 cost index sits 21 points below the national baseline, and the $49,944 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $224,899 — $242,471 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 78, while Healthcare trails at 94 (that's pre-tax, of course).
364,136 residents · Louisiana
Why New Orleans ranks #4: the numbers tell a clear story. At 97 on the cost index, residents save roughly 15% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,625/month while the median household pulls in $55,339/year. The Utilities category is particularly strong at 89, though Healthcare (100) lags behind. Home prices average $239,751 — $227,619 below the national median.
Shreveport ranks #1 in Louisiana for this analysis with a cost index of 85 and median income of $48,465.
Yes. On a $30K salary in Shreveport, rent would consume about 47% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. It's tight — consider a roommate or nearby suburb.
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 $30K in Shreveport is approximately $23,062/year ($1,922/month). After median rent of $1,170/month, you'd have roughly $9,022/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.