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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Louisiana is a genuine bargain: 4 of the 4 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Lafayette leads at an index of 90 with rent at just $1,279/month — 33% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
Louisiana is a genuine bargain: 4 of the 4 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Lafayette leads at an index of 90 with rent at just $1,279/month — 33% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
Lafayette earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 90 cost index sits 22 points below the national baseline, and the $61,454 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. That tracks. Homes list at $219,057 — $248,313 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 76, while Healthcare trails at 93 (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
Value = income ÷ cost index. The national benchmark ratio is 718. Lafayette delivers 683 — -5% more purchasing power per dollar earned. This metric catches cities that expensive-but-high-paying rankings miss: a $90K salary in a city with index 80 buys more than $120K in a city with index 150.
Here's the asterisk: Here's the state-level backdrop: Louisiana averages a 91 cost index, $1,347/mo — we had to double-check this one — 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.
What to do with this data: use the ranking as a shortlist, then dig into the city profiles for trend lines and category breakdowns. The difference between #1 and #5 is often smaller than the difference between "good on paper" and "actually fits my life." Compare your top picks with our calculator to see real take-home numbers.
#1 Ranked: Lafayette — cost index 90, rent $1,279/mo, income $61,454
4 of 4 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 112
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Value Ratio | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lafayette | 683 | 90 | $1,279 | Details |
| 2 | New Orleans | 571 | 97 | $1,625 | Details |
| 3 | Shreveport | 570 | 85 | $1,170 | Details |
| 4 | Baton Rouge | 549 | 91 | $1,312 | Details |
121,467 residents · Louisiana
Why Lafayette ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 90 on the cost index, residents save roughly 22% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,279/month — for better or worse — while the median household pulls in $61,454/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 76, though Healthcare (93) lags behind. Home prices average $219,057 — $248,313 below the national median (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
364,136 residents · Louisiana
Dive into New Orleans's numbers: cost index 97 (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.
177,959 residents · Louisiana
Why Shreveport ranks #3: the numbers tell a clear story. At 85 on the cost index, residents save roughly 27% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,170/month while the median household pulls in $48,465/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 62, though Healthcare (87) lags behind. Home prices average $134,461 — $332,909 below the national median.
219,573 residents · Louisiana
In plain English: Here's Baton Rouge by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 91. Rent: $1,312/month — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — . Income: $49,944/year. Home price: $224,899. Population: 219,573. The strongest category is Housing at 78; the most expensive is Healthcare at 94. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $6,996 per year vs. the national median. Over a five-year window, that difference is life-changing.
Value ratio = median household income ÷ cost of living index. A higher ratio means each dollar of income buys more locally. This captures purchasing power better than looking at income or cost alone. 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.
Lafayette ranks #1 in Louisiana for this analysis with a cost index of 90 and median income of $61,454.
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.
Lafayette (ranked #1) has a cost index of 90 and rent of $1,279/mo, while Baton Rouge (ranked #4) has a cost index of 91 and rent of $1,312/mo — a 1-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 Lafayette is $1,279/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $616 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Lafayette is $219,057, which is 3.6× the local median income. It's on the edge of affordability for median-income households. 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.