Cost of living in Louisiana

Everyday prices in Louisiana run 11.8% below the US average, the 5th lowest of 51 states and DC.

By Sol Lakein, founder of Slower Sundays. Updated November 2026.

12% cheaperEveryday prices¹5th lowest of 51
$270,000Typical home^2,3$1,484/mo mortgage
$1,105/mo2-bed rent⁴Utilities included
$117,544$150K in New York¹Buys the same life in Louisiana

Louisiana next to New York and the US

Longer bar = costs more.^1,4,2,3

LouisianaUnited StatesNew York metro

Everyday prices
12% cheaper than averageUS average · New York metro 13% pricier
Housing, rent included
37% cheaper than averageUS average · New York metro 49% pricier
2-bedroom rent$1,105/mo
29% less than the USUS $1,563 · New York metro $1,997
Typical home for sale$270,000
36% less than the USUS $419,250 · New York metro $742,000Mortgage $1,484/mo, US $2,304, New York metro $4,078. 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32%.

How affordable is Louisiana?

Rent and home prices next to what households earn.⁶

$60,670

Typical household incomeA year · 50th highest of 51

22%

Of income goes to rentA year of 2-bed rent ($1,105/mo) against median income ($60,670). 41st lowest of 51.

4.5

Years of income to buy a home$270,000 median listing against $60,670 income. 20th lowest of 50.

Are people moving to Louisiana?

14,387 more people left Louisiana for other states than arrived between July 2024 and July 2025 (Census Bureau estimates).

YearLeftArrivedNet moves
2019-20-25,334
2020-21-27,184
2021-22-48,131
2022-23-31,283
2023-24-17,659
2024-25-14,387

Where Americans are moving⁵

Metro areas in Louisiana

Cheapest first. Tap one for its full cost of living.^1,4,2

Price levelUS averageShorter bar = cheaper, longer = pricier

Louisiana next to its neighbors

The states that border Louisiana, on the same measures. The number is each state's national rank on everyday prices.^1,4,2

1Arkansas13% cheaper than average
2-bed rent
$1,014
Typical home
$318,743
Net moves
+14,475
2Mississippi13% cheaper than average
2-bed rent
$1,016
Typical home
$292,250
Net moves
-917
5LouisianaThis state12% cheaper than average
2-bed rent
$1,105
Typical home
$270,000
Net moves
-14,387
27Texas3% cheaper than average
2-bed rent
$1,533
Typical home
$355,765
Net moves
+67,299

Louisiana by the numbers

Every figure on this page, as tables

Louisiana next to New York and the US

Place	Price level	Housing	Typical home	Monthly payment	2-bedroom rent
Louisiana	88.2	63.1	$270,000	$1,484	$1,105
United States	100.0	100.0	$419,250	$2,304	$1,563
New York metro	112.6	148.6	$742,000	$4,078	$1,997

Metro areas in Louisiana

Metro	Price level	2-bedroom rent	Typical home
Baton Rouge, LA	90.8	$1,143	$298,250
New Orleans-Metairie, LA	92.6	$1,376	$287,000

Louisiana next to its neighbors

State	Price level	2-bedroom rent	Typical home	Net moves from other states
Louisiana	88.2	$1,105	$270,000	-14,387
Arkansas	86.9	$1,014	$318,743	+14,475
Mississippi	87.0	$1,016	$292,250	-917
Texas	97.1	$1,533	$355,765	+67,299

Net moves from other states

Year (July to July)	Net moves from other states
2019-20	-25,334
2020-21	-27,184
2021-22	-48,131
2022-23	-31,283
2023-24	-17,659
2024-25	-14,387

States with a similar cost of living to Louisiana

Keep comparing

Louisiana cost of living: questions people ask

What is the cost of living in Louisiana?

Everyday prices in Louisiana run 11.8% below the US average, the 5th lowest of 51 states and DC (BEA, 2024). Housing costs, rent included, index at 63.1 against a US average of 100. The median listed home is $270,000 (Realtor.com, September 2026), about $1,484 a month in principal and interest. The median 2-bedroom rent is $1,105 a month, utilities included (Census, 2025). A $150,000 salary in New York buys the same as $117,544 in Louisiana.

Is Louisiana cheap or expensive to live in?

Cheaper than average. Louisiana's regional price parity is 88.2, so the same basket of goods, services and rent costs 11.8% less than the US average (BEA, 2024).

How much does a house cost in Louisiana?

The median listed home in Louisiana is $270,000 as of September 2026 (Realtor.com via FRED), against $419,250 nationally. That ranks 2nd lowest of 50. With 20% down at 7.32%, principal and interest run about $1,484 a month.

How much is rent in Louisiana?

The median gross rent for a 2-bedroom in Louisiana is $1,105 a month, including utilities the renter pays, against $1,563 for the US (Census American Community Survey, 2025).

What salary in Louisiana equals $150,000 in New York?

About $117,544, using BEA regional price parities for Louisiana (88.2) and the New York metro (112.6), 2024.

Are people moving to Louisiana?

14,387 more people left Louisiana for other states than arrived between July 2024 and July 2025 (Census Bureau estimates).

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Notes on the numbers

1Everyday prices, housing costs and price levels: BEA regional price parities via FRED, 2024, where the US average is 100. In ranked lists, 1 is the cheapest.
2Homes: the typical home is the median listing price, Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026.
3Mortgage: Principal and interest on the median listed home with 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32% (Freddie Mac 30-year fixed average, week of October 22, 2026). Excludes taxes, insurance and HOA.
4Rent: Census ACS 2025 1-year, median gross rent for 2-bedroom units, including utilities.
5Net moves: US Census Bureau population estimates, net domestic migration, July to July.
6Affordability: our arithmetic on Census median gross rent (2025), Census median household income (2025) and Realtor.com median listing price (September 2026). Rank 1 is the most affordable.

Sources for this page