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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
People move for jobs, weather, and family. But they stay for this: 0 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $40K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $40K salary, 0 cities (0%) meet this threshold. That's a toug…
177,959 residents · Louisiana
The numbers for Shreveport are straightforward: 68 on the cost index, $1,170/month — we had to double-check this one — rent, $48,465 income. Not the most exciting entry in the list, but solid. That's about what we'd expect given the state context.
121,467 residents · Louisiana
Lafayette comes in at #2. Rent is $1,279 — we had to double-check this one — a month. Household income is $61,454. The cost of living index is 75. Nothing too surprising there.
219,573 residents · Louisiana
In plain English: Why Baton Rouge ranks #3: 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 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 (your mileage may vary — literally). The math checks out.
364,136 residents · Louisiana
New Orleans comes in at #4. And as a general rule, rent is $1,625 a month. Household income is $55,339. The cost of living index is 95. Take it or leave it — the data is what it is. Quietly competitive.
#1 Ranked: Shreveport — cost index 68, rent $1,170/mo, income $48,465
0 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $40K
0 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $40K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shreveport | $1,170 | 35% | 68 | Details |
| 2 | Lafayette | $1,279 | 38% | 75 | Details |
| 3 | Baton Rouge | $1,312 | 39% | 77 | Details |
| 4 | New Orleans | $1,625 | 49% | 95 | Details |
People move for jobs, weather, and family. But they stay for this: 0 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $40K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $40K salary, 0 cities (0%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market. For anyone running the numbers, this is where it clicks. Can we talk about how broken the conversation around affordability is? A city gets labeled 'cheap' and suddenly everyone assumes there's a catch — bad schools, no jobs, nothing to do. But look at the income numbers here. Look at the cost categories. This isn't a budget consolation prize. It's a genuine alternative to the coastal rat race, and the data makes that case more convincingly than any think piece.
In plain English: the 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. And as a general rule, on a $40K salary, 0 cities (0%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market. We ran the numbers on 4 cities in Louisiana using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Shreveport comes out on top — here's the full ranking and analysis. That's not nothing.
At $1,170/month for rent and a cost index of 68, Shreveport is pretty much what you'd expect from a mid-size city in this part of the country. And in practical terms, it's fine. Not great, not bad. Income is $48,465. It lines up with what you'd expect.
In plain English: Factor in the cost side, though, and the picture shifts. It's fine. Not great, not bad. The 4 cities we track in Louisiana paint a clearly affordable picture. Average cost index: 79. Median rent: $1,347/month. Household income: $53,801. Louisiana is known for Cajun culture and below-average costs — and the data backs that reputation convincingly. The definition of value.
Real talk: 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.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $40K salary, 0 cities (0%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market.
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.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Shreveport | 4.25% | 9.55% | 0.51% | $30,672 |
2Lafayette | 4.25% | 9.55% | 0.51% | $30,672 |
3Baton Rouge | 4.25% | 9.55% | 0.51% | $30,672 |
4New Orleans | 4.25% | 9.55% | 0.51% | $30,672 |
Shreveport ranks #1 in Louisiana for this analysis with a cost index of 68 and median income of $48,465.
Yes. On a $40K salary in Shreveport, rent would consume about 35% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. It's tight — consider a roommate or nearby suburb.
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 $40K in Shreveport is approximately $30,672/year ($2,556/month). After median rent of $1,170/month, you'd have roughly $16,632/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.