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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Louisiana is a genuine bargain: 4 of the 4 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. New Orleans leads at an index of 95 with rent at just $1,625/month — 14% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
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 and homes at $239,751 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons.
219,573 residents · Louisiana
The #2 spot goes to Baton Rouge, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,312/month — saving renters $6,996 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 77, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 95. The 32% rent-to-income ratio is a pressure point — for median earners, housing takes more than recommended (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
177,959 residents · Louisiana
Real talk: Dive into Shreveport's numbers: cost index 68 (43 points below national average), rent $1,170/month, income $48,465, and a home price of $134,461. That alone makes it worth considering. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Housing is the cheapest category at 68, while Healthcare runs 94. With 177,959 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
121,467 residents · Louisiana
What does daily life actually cost in Lafayette? Start with the 25% rent-to-income ratio — tight but manageable for most households. On the category level, Housing (index 75) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 95) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $61,454 and homes at $219,057 round out a profile that ranks #4 for clear reasons.
#1 Ranked: New Orleans — cost index 95, rent $1,625/mo, income $55,339
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 | New Orleans | 95 | $1,625 | Details |
| 2 | Baton Rouge | 77 | $1,312 | Details |
| 3 | Shreveport | 68 | $1,170 | Details |
| 4 | Lafayette | 75 | $1,279 | Details |
Louisiana is a genuine bargain: 4 of the 4 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. New Orleans leads at an index of 95 with rent at just $1,625/month — 14% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
New Orleans comes in at #1. Rent is $1,625 a month. Household income is $55,339. The cost of living index is 95. You get the picture.
Tax burden isn't just income tax. And depending on your situation, we combine three layers: state income tax (4.25% in New Orleans), combined state+local sales tax (9.55%), and effective property tax (0.51%). At 4.25% state income tax, the real differentiator becomes sales and property tax rates. On a $75,000 salary, the estimated take-home in #1 New Orleans is $54,522/year.
Perhaps more importantly, 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.
Bottom line: New Orleans 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.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1New Orleans | 4.25% | 9.55% | 0.51% | $41,526 |
2Baton Rouge | 4.25% | 9.55% | 0.51% | $41,526 |
3Shreveport | 4.25% | 9.55% | 0.51% | $41,526 |
4Lafayette | 4.25% | 9.55% | 0.51% | $41,526 |
Total tax burden = state income tax rate + combined sales tax rate + effective property tax rate. We rank cities from lowest combined burden to highest. Keep in mind property tax and sales tax are local-level, so two cities in the same state can differ meaningfully. 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.
New Orleans ranks #1 in Louisiana for this analysis with a cost index of 95 and median income of $55,339.
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.
New Orleans (ranked #1) has a cost index of 95 and rent of $1,625/mo, while Lafayette (ranked #4) has a cost index of 75 and rent of $1,279/mo — a 20-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 New Orleans is $1,625/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $270 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in New Orleans is $239,751, which is 4.3× 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.