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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. And roughly speaking, on a $50K salary, 1 cities (25%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market. We ran the numbers on 4 cities in Louisiana using 2026 census, rent, and sala…
#1 Ranked: Shreveport — cost index 68, rent $1,170/mo, income $48,465
1 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $50K
1 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $50K 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 | 28% | 68 | Details |
| 2 | Lafayette | $1,279 | 31% | 75 | Details |
| 3 | Baton Rouge | $1,312 | 31% | 77 | Details |
| 4 | New Orleans | $1,625 | 39% | 95 | Details |
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. And roughly speaking, on a $50K salary, 1 cities (25%) 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.
Shreveport is one of the cheaper options here. Rent is $1,170/month, which is lower than most cities in this ranking. The cost index is 68. Income sits at $48,465. It lines up with what you'd expect.
On a $50K salary, the key number is $1,250/month — that's 30% of gross, the standard affordability line. Shreveport ($1,170/mo, 28%), Lafayette ($1,279/mo, 31%), Baton Rouge ($1,312/mo, 31%) all clear that bar. After federal tax, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax, estimated take-home ranges from $37,997 to $37,997/year across these top picks.
You could spend hours on Zillow. And roughly speaking, or you could start with this number: 1 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $50K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $50K salary, 1 cities (25%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market. That's a difference you notice every single month.
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.
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.
177,959 residents · Louisiana
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.
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. This combination is rare — and valuable.
219,573 residents · Louisiana
At $1,312/month for rent and a cost index of 77, Baton Rouge is pretty much what you'd expect from a mid-size city in this part of the country. Income is $49,944. That's more or less in line with the region (that's pre-tax, of course).
364,136 residents · Louisiana
New Orleans earns its position at #4 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 95 cost index sits 16 points below the national baseline, and the $55,339 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $239,751 — $227,619 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 95, while Healthcare trails at 99.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Shreveport | 4.25% | 9.55% | 0.51% | $37,997 |
2Lafayette | 4.25% | 9.55% | 0.51% | $37,997 |
3Baton Rouge | 4.25% | 9.55% | 0.51% | $37,997 |
4New Orleans | 4.25% | 9.55% | 0.51% | $37,997 |
Shreveport ranks #1 in Louisiana for this analysis with a cost index of 68 and median income of $48,465.
Yes. On a $50K salary in Shreveport, rent would consume about 28% 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 $50K in Shreveport is approximately $37,997/year ($3,166/month). After median rent of $1,170/month, you'd have roughly $23,957/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.