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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 depending on your situation, 4 out of 4 cities undercut the national cost index of 111. Leading the pack: Lafayette at index 75, where median rent of $1,279/month saves renters $7,392/year versus the national median.
#1 Ranked: Lafayette — cost index 75, rent $1,279/mo, income $61,454
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 depending on your situation, 4 out of 4 cities undercut the national cost index of 111. Leading the pack: Lafayette at index 75, where median rent of $1,279/month saves renters $7,392/year versus the national median.
The ranking uses a composite of 2026 data from Census Bureau population/income surveys, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary benchmarks, and Tax Foundation tax rates. And for the typical household, that alone makes it worth considering. Lafayette (index 75, rent $1,279); New Orleans (index 95, rent $1,625); Baton Rouge (index 77, rent $1,312). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons.
A closer look at Lafayette: the cost index of 75 — we had to double-check this one — breaks down to a Housing index of 75 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 95 (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.
If you only look at rent, it's perfect. Zoom out and it's complicated. In Lafayette, the healthcare index sits at 95 — not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing about.
Bottom line: Lafayette leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. About what you'd guess. 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 (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
| Rank | City | Median Income | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lafayette | $61,454 | 75 | $1,279 | Details |
| 2 | New Orleans | $55,339 | 95 | $1,625 | Details |
| 3 | Baton Rouge | $49,944 | 77 | $1,312 | Details |
| 4 | Shreveport | $48,465 | 68 | $1,170 | Details |
121,467 residents · Louisiana
Lafayette is one of the cheaper options here. Rent is $1,279/month — we had to double-check this one — , which is lower than most cities in this ranking. The cost index is 75. Income sits at $61,454. That's more or less in line with the region (that's pre-tax, of course).
364,136 residents · Louisiana
The #2 spot goes to New Orleans, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,625/month — saving renters $3,240 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 95, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Healthcare at 99. The 35% rent-to-income ratio is a pressure point — for median earners, housing takes more than recommended (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
219,573 residents · Louisiana
Here's Baton Rouge by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 77. 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 77; the most expensive is Healthcare at 95. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $6,996 per year vs. the national median. That's the kind of stat homebuyers should print out for their mortgage meetings (that's pre-tax, of course). The definition of value.
177,959 residents · Louisiana
So, Shreveport. Cost index of 68, rent at $1,170/month. It's lower than the national average. Median income is $48,465, which is below the national median. There's not much to say about that beyond the obvious.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Lafayette | 4.25% | 9.55% | 0.51% | $45,568 |
2New Orleans | 4.25% | 9.55% | 0.51% | $45,568 |
3Baton Rouge | 4.25% | 9.55% | 0.51% | $45,568 |
4Shreveport | 4.25% | 9.55% | 0.51% | $45,568 |
Cities are ranked by median household income from Census ACS data. We also show cost-adjusted purchasing power (income ÷ cost index) to reveal which high-income cities actually deliver the most real-world spending power. 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 75 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 75 and rent of $1,279/mo, while Shreveport (ranked #4) has a cost index of 68 and rent of $1,170/mo — a 7-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.