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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
In plain English: Louisiana is a genuine bargain: 4 of the 4 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Shreveport leads at an index of 68 with rent at just $1,170/month — 38% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated…
#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
| 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 |
In plain English: Louisiana is a genuine bargain: 4 of the 4 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Shreveport leads at an index of 68 with rent at just $1,170/month — 38% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026 (which, to be fair, is a metric that favors smaller cities).
In plain English: a closer look at Shreveport: the cost index of 68 — we had to double-check this one — breaks down to a Housing index of 68 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 94 (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's within the recommended 30% threshold, though it doesn't leave much room.
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 (that's pre-tax, of course).
177,959 residents · Louisiana
Here's Shreveport by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 68. Rent: $1,170/month. Income: $48,465/year. Home price: $134,461. Population: 177,959. The strongest category is Housing at 68; the most expensive is Healthcare at 94. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $8,700 per year vs. the national median. Run the numbers annually, and it's like getting a bonus you didn't negotiate.
121,467 residents · Louisiana
Lafayette earns its position at #2 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 75 cost index sits 36 points below the national baseline, and the $61,454 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $219,057 — $248,313 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 75, while Healthcare trails at 95.
364,136 residents · Louisiana
The #3 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.
219,573 residents · Louisiana
Why Baton Rouge ranks #4: the numbers tell a clear story. At 77 on the cost index, residents save roughly 34% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,312/month — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — while the median household pulls in $49,944/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 77, though Healthcare (95) lags behind. Home prices average $224,899 — $242,471 below the national median.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Shreveport | 4.25% | 9.55% | 0.51% | $36,982 |
2Lafayette | 4.25% | 9.55% | 0.51% | $36,982 |
3New Orleans | 4.25% | 9.55% | 0.51% | $36,982 |
4Baton Rouge | 4.25% | 9.55% | 0.51% | $36,982 |
We divide median home price by median household income for each city in Louisiana. A ratio of 3× means a home costs 3 years of gross income — generally considered affordable. Ratios above 5× signal a stretched market. 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.