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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 $60K salary, 3 cities (75%) 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. Shreve…
177,959 residents · Louisiana
A closer look at Shreveport: the cost index of 85 — though some people might weigh that differently — breaks down to a Housing index of 62 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 87 (weakest). 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 tracks. That's within the recommended 30% threshold, though it doesn't leave much room.
121,467 residents · Louisiana
Lafayette comes in at #2. Rent is $1,279 a month. Household income is $61,454. The cost of living index is 90. Take it or leave it — the data is what it is. That's not nothing.
219,573 residents · Louisiana
Baton Rouge earns its position at #3 through a combination that's hard to replicate. And as far as the data shows, 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.
364,136 residents · Louisiana
Dive into New Orleans's numbers: cost index 97 — for better or worse — (15 points below national average), rent $1,625/month, income $55,339, and a home price of $239,751. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Utilities is the cheapest category at 89, while Healthcare runs 100. With 364,136 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
#1 Ranked: Shreveport — cost index 85, rent $1,170/mo, income $48,465
3 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $60K
3 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $60K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shreveport | $1,170 | 23% | 85 | Details |
| 2 | Lafayette | $1,279 | 26% | 90 | Details |
| 3 | Baton Rouge | $1,312 | 26% | 91 | Details |
| 4 | New Orleans | $1,625 | 33% | 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 $60K salary, 3 cities (75%) 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 (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
Dive into Shreveport's numbers: cost index 85 (27 points below national average), rent $1,170/month, income $48,465, and a home price of $134,461. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Housing is the cheapest category at 62, while Healthcare runs 87. With 177,959 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
On a $60K salary, the key number is $1,500/month — for better or worse — — that's 30% of gross, the standard affordability line. Shreveport ($1,170/mo, 23%), Lafayette ($1,279/mo, 26%), Baton Rouge ($1,312/mo, 26%) all clear that bar. After federal tax, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax, estimated take-home ranges from $44,607 to $44,607/year across these top picks.
Before you scroll past this, pause on this number: 3 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $60K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $60K salary, 3 cities (75%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices.
Stepping back, Here's the state-level backdrop: Louisiana averages a 91 cost index, $1,347/mo rent, and $53,801 income across 4 cities. That's $548 less than the national rent average. Cajun culture and below-average costs — and that context shapes every city in this ranking.
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.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $60K salary, 3 cities (75%) 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.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Shreveport | 4.25% | 9.55% | 0.51% | $44,607 |
2Lafayette | 4.25% | 9.55% | 0.51% | $44,607 |
3Baton Rouge | 4.25% | 9.55% | 0.51% | $44,607 |
4New Orleans | 4.25% | 9.55% | 0.51% | $44,607 |
We calculate what percentage of a $60K 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 $60K salary in Shreveport, rent would consume about 23% 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 $60K in Shreveport is approximately $44,607/year ($3,717/month). After median rent of $1,170/month, you'd have roughly $30,567/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.