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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Dollar for dollar, few states match Louisiana's value. And in most cases, 4 out of 4 cities undercut the national cost index of 111. Leading the pack: Shreveport at index 68, where median rent of $1,170/month saves renters $8,700/year versus the national median.
#1 Ranked: Shreveport — cost index 68, rent $1,170/mo, income $48,465
Shreveport rent up 3% over the past year
4 of 4 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 111
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
Dollar for dollar, few states match Louisiana's value. And in most cases, 4 out of 4 cities undercut the national cost index of 111. Leading the pack: Shreveport at index 68, where median rent of $1,170/month saves renters $8,700/year versus the national median.
Shreveport rent up 3% over the past year. 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 (a figure that keeps climbing, by the way).
Dive into Shreveport's numbers: cost index 68 (43 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 68, while Healthcare runs 94. With 177,959 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
The 3.5× rule is a conservative benchmark: lenders often approve up to 4-5× income, but 3.5× keeps monthly payments safely under 28% of gross income at typical rates. On $60K, that means targeting homes under $210,000. Shreveport offers a median home at $134,461 — a 2.2× ratio with room to spare.
None of this exists in a vacuum, though. Across Louisiana, the average cost of living index is 79 — 32 points below the national median. Known for Cajun culture and below-average costs, the state offers 4 tracked cities with median rents averaging $1,347/month. That's $548 less than the national average of $1,895. This is worth factoring into any relocation decision (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
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.
| Rank | City | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shreveport | 68 | $1,170 | Details |
| 2 | Lafayette | 75 | $1,279 | Details |
| 3 | New Orleans | 95 | $1,625 | Details |
| 4 | Baton Rouge | 77 | $1,312 | Details |
177,959 residents · Louisiana
What does daily life actually cost in Shreveport? Start with the 29% rent-to-income ratio — tight but manageable for most households. And roughly speaking, on the category level, Housing (index 68) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 94) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $48,465 and homes at $134,461 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
121,467 residents · Louisiana
So, Lafayette. Cost index of 75 — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — , rent at $1,279/month. It's lower than the national average. Median income is $61,454, which is below the national median. That's more or less in line with the region.
364,136 residents · Louisiana
Here's New Orleans by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 95. Rent: $1,625/month. Income: $55,339/year. Home price: $239,751. Population: 364,136. The strongest category is Housing at 95; the most expensive is Healthcare at 99. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $3,240 per year vs. the national median. That kind of value just doesn't show up in expensive metros.
219,573 residents · Louisiana
The #4 spot goes to Baton Rouge, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,312/month — saving renters $6,996 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 77, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 95. The 32% rent-to-income ratio is a pressure point — for median earners, housing takes more than recommended.
We rank cities by their home-price-to-income ratio (median home price ÷ median household income). A lower ratio means homes are more attainable relative to local earnings. The standard benchmark is 3-5×; above 5× is considered stretched. 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 68 and median income of $48,465.
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 68 and rent of $1,170/mo, while Baton Rouge (ranked #4) has a cost index of 77 and rent of $1,312/mo — a 9-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.
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.