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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Here's the asterisk: Louisiana — Cajun culture and below-average costs. The 4 cities we track here average a cost index of 79 and median income of $53,801. It's a clear buyer's market compared to national norms. The typical rent runs $1,347/month, which is $548 less than the national median.
#1 Ranked: Shreveport — cost index 68, rent $1,170/mo, income $48,465
4 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $150K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Shreveport | 4.25% | 9.55% | 0.51% | $103,108 |
2Lafayette | 4.25% | 9.55% | 0.51% | $103,108 |
3Baton Rouge | 4.25% | 9.55% | 0.51% | $103,108 |
4New Orleans | 4.25% | 9.55% | 0.51% | $103,108 |
Here's the asterisk: Louisiana — Cajun culture and below-average costs. The 4 cities we track here average a cost index of 79 and median income of $53,801. It's a clear buyer's market compared to national norms. The typical rent runs $1,347/month, which is $548 less than the national median.
The numbers are clear: 4 of 4 cities in Louisiana beat the national cost-of-living benchmark of 111. Shreveport stands out at 68 on the index, with rent of $1,170/month and household income of $48,465. That alone makes it worth considering. Assembled from 2026 Census, Zillow, and BLS data.
What does daily life actually cost in Shreveport? Start with the 29% rent-to-income ratio — tight but manageable for most households. 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.
On a $150K salary, the key number is $3,750/month — that's 30% of gross, the standard affordability line. Shreveport ($1,170/mo, 9%), Lafayette ($1,279/mo, 10%), Baton Rouge ($1,312/mo, 10%) all clear that bar. After federal tax, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax, estimated take-home ranges from $103,108 to $103,108/year across these top picks.
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 | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shreveport | $1,170 | 9% | 68 | Details |
| 2 | Lafayette | $1,279 | 10% | 75 | Details |
| 3 | Baton Rouge | $1,312 | 10% | 77 | Details |
| 4 | New Orleans | $1,625 | 13% | 95 | Details |
177,959 residents · Louisiana
A closer look at Shreveport: the cost index of 68 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.
121,467 residents · Louisiana
Here's Lafayette by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 75. Rent: $1,279/month. Income: $61,454/year. Home price: $219,057. Population: 121,467. The strongest category is Housing at 75; the most expensive is Healthcare at 95. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $7,392 per year vs. the national median. That's a margin of safety most budgets don't have.
219,573 residents · Louisiana
Dive into Baton Rouge's numbers: cost index 77 (34 points below national average), rent $1,312/month, income $49,944, and a home price of $224,899. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Housing is the cheapest category at 77, while Healthcare runs 95. With 219,573 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
364,136 residents · Louisiana
What does daily life actually cost in New Orleans? Start with the 35% rent-to-income ratio — stretched, especially for single earners. On the category level, Housing (index 95) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 99) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $55,339 — worth pausing on — and homes at $239,751 round out a profile that ranks #4 for clear reasons.
We model what a $150K salary looks like after taxes in each city: federal income tax (marginal brackets), FICA (7.65%), and state income tax. Then we compare take-home against local rent and costs to determine where the salary stretches furthest. 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.
Yes. On a $150K salary in Shreveport, rent would consume about 9% 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 68 and rent of $1,170/mo, while New Orleans (ranked #4) has a cost index of 95 and rent of $1,625/mo — a 27-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 $150K in Shreveport is approximately $103,108/year ($8,592/month). After median rent of $1,170/month, you'd have roughly $89,068/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.