What it actually costs to live in Louisiana.
Louisiana’s cost-of-living index sits at 91 on the MERIC composite (national average = 100), ranking #38 of 51 jurisdictions for cost. That means a standard basket of goods + services in Louisiana costs about 9% LESS than the US average. Median home price: $285,000. Population-weighted median rent across metros: $1,016/mo.
Louisiana cost components
| Component | Louisiana | National avg |
|---|---|---|
| COL index (basket) | 91 | 100 |
| Median home price | $285,000 | ~$420,000 |
| Median rent (pop-weighted) | $1,016/mo | ~$1,850/mo |
| Commute cost (proxy) | $195/mo | ~$185/mo |
Commute cost = avg metro commute minutes × $0.18/min × 2 trips × 22 work days. Refined BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey integration tracked for v1.
How Louisiana compares
Of all 51 US jurisdictions, Louisiana ranks #38 for cost. That places Louisiana in the middle — moderate cost without being a particular outlier. For the live state-vs-state heat map see the interactive cost-of-living map.
Louisiana metros — city-level cost
State averages hide major intra-state variation. New Orleans has very different housing dynamics than smaller Louisiana metros. Click any city for the full home affordability breakdown.
- New OrleansCOL 96 · home $245,000rent $1,271/mo →
- Baton RougeCOL 88 · home $220,000rent $800/mo →
- ShreveportCOL 82 · home $165,000rent $850/mo →
- LafayetteCOL 88 · home $215,000rent $950/mo →
- Lake CharlesCOL 85 · home $175,000rent $850/mo →
More Louisiana metros coming as we expand city coverage.
Louisiana cost of living — common questions
What is the cost of living in Louisiana?
Louisiana's MERIC cost-of-living index is 91 (national average = 100). That means a typical basket of goods + services in Louisiana costs about 9% less than the US average.
What is the median home price in Louisiana?
Louisiana's state-level median home price is approximately $285,000 (Census ACS 2024). Metros vary significantly — see the top-metro list below for city-level breakdowns.
What is the median rent in Louisiana?
Louisiana's population-weighted median rent across metros in our dataset is approximately $1,016/mo. Major-metro rents typically run 30-80% above this state-level average.
Are there any Louisiana-specific cost-of-living quirks?
Louisiana homeowners insurance crisis: 12+ insurers became insolvent post-Ida (2021); Citizens (state insurer-of-last-resort) policies often $4,000–$10,000/yr in coastal parishes.
Reviewed by CalcFi Editorial · COL source: MERIC quarterly; home + rent: Census ACS 2024. Last verified 2026-04-19.