Swampy bayous full of alligators. Spirited cities full of live music, stately architecture and multicultural roots. An unparalleled food scene that has given the world-famous dishes like jambalaya. Friendly neighbors are always ready for a good time. Of course, we’re talking about the one and only Louisiana.
Located on the Gulf of Mexico in the southeastern U.S., Louisiana has many claims to fame, from being the birthplace of jazz music to its unique Cajun and Creole cultures. While New Orleans is its most famous city, it’s far from the only good place to live. Everywhere in Louisiana, you’ll find great food, friendly communities and access to nature.
The cost of living in Louisiana varies by city. Bigger cities like New Orleans are more expensive, but smaller and up-and-coming cities offer more reasonable prices for things like housing and food. Let’s dive into Louisiana’s cost of living to see what different cities around the state have to offer.
- Housing costs
- Food prices
- Utility costs
- Transportation costs
- Healthcare costs
- Goods and services costs
- Tax rates
- How much do you need to earn to live in Louisiana?
Louisiana housing prices
Living in Louisiana, housing costs are all over the place. For the most part, total housing costs are below the national average. But in New Orleans in particular, the cost of housing is well above the national average. But don’t despair. Even if your dream is proximity to New Orleans, you can likely find more affordable options in nearby cities or get roommates.
To give you an overview of housing costs around the state, let’s take a closer look at average rents and the housing markets in some of Louisiana’s top cities.
Alexandria
With a population of around 44,787, Alexandria is the ninth-most-populous city in Louisiana. It’s located almost in the heart of the state, surrounded by lakes, rivers and forests. These natural areas are a great playground for all kinds of outdoor recreation from hiking to boating. With several universities, fun zoos, seasonal festivals and cool museums, it’s a great place for those seeking a more laidback type of Louisiana city life.
It’s also affordable housing-wise, with total housing costs falling 21.6 percent below the national average. But average rents are going up. The cost of a one-bedroom apartment is down 11 percent over the past year to $1,148 per month. The price for a two-bedroom unit is up 15 percent to $1,522.
Baton Rouge
Situated along the banks of the Mississippi River, Baton Rouge is the state capital of Louisiana. It’s also the state’s second-most-populous city. Living here, residents enjoy access to universities, historic architecture, family-friendly activities and live sports. Louisiana State University is here, home of the LSU Tigers. Even though New Orleans is just down the road, Baton Rouge also has excellent dining and cultural scenes for everyone from families to young adults.
Housing costs here are reasonable, at 8.6 percent below the national average. You can find one-bedroom apartments around town going for $982 a month, up 9 percent from last year. Two-bedroom units go for an average of $1,080 a month, which is up 8 percent from last year.
While the national median sale price for a home is $428,379, the median sale price for a home in Baton Rouge is $242,450. The Baton Rouge housing market has gone up only 5.5 percent over the past year.
Lafayette
Currently, the city of Lafayette in southern Louisiana is the fifth-most-populous city in the state. But it’s one of the fastest-growing cities, as well. People are flocking here for the lower cost of living, good quality of life and vibrant culture stemming largely from Creole and Cajun heritage. The city has great dining, festivals, museums, events and more for its residents, and it’s the home of several universities including the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
Housing costs here are 29.1 percent below the national average. But that fast growth has caused average rents to go up over the past year. With an average monthly rent of $1,140, one-bedroom apartments are up 18 percent from the previous year. Two-bedroom units are up 13 percent to $1,432.
Lafayette’s housing market has also gone up, growing 14.9 percent from last year. The median sale price for a home here is $241,250.
New Orleans
The Big Easy. Crescent City. Call it what you like, New Orleans needs almost no introduction. It ‘s both Louisiana’s best-known and most-populous city with a population of 376,971. With booming tourism, tech and manufacturing industries, residents in the city’s many fun neighborhoods get to live in one of the South’s most vibrant cities. Living here, you can listen to stellar live jazz on Frenchmen’s Street, eat and drink your way through an ever-growing list of restaurants and bars and soak up all the multicultural energy and ambiance.
Living in this exciting city does come at a cost, though. Total housing costs here are 41.2 percent above the national average. Average rents are among the highest in the state, with one-bedroom apartments going for $1,655 and two-bedroom apartments costing $2,175. These prices are both up 6 percent from last year. If you’re looking to live in New Orleans on the cheap, these are the least expensive neighborhoods around town.
New Orleans’ housing market is similarly pricey. The median sale price for a house here is $400,000, which is 8.7 percent higher than last year.
Shreveport
Located in the northwestern part of the state, Shreveport is Louisiana’s third-most-populous city. Its greater metro area includes the neighboring city of Bossier City. Blending business, industry, culture and education, it’s the hub of the Ark-La-Tex region where Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas meet. Many major corporations have operations here, and five different universities are here, as well. A good roster of family-friendly activities like the Sci-Port Discovery Center and numerous museums and art galleries make this a dynamic city to call home.
Housing costs here are 28.6 percent below the national average, and the average rent is going up. The monthly price for a one-bedroom apartment has climbed 27 percent from last year to $1,067. For a two-bedroom apartment, expect to pay around $1,486, which is 16 percent higher than last year.
The median sale price for a house in Shreveport is up 10.6 percent from last year to $194,000. This makes it one of the most affordable housing markets in the state.
Louisiana food prices
From beignets to crawfish boils, Louisiana is a food-loving state. New Orleans, in particular, is famous for its food scene, where a fusion of Southern, West African, French, Spanish and other cuisines has created distinct Cajun and Creole cuisines. New Orleans and Louisiana overall have a whole laundry list of iconic foods that originated here, including po’boy sandwiches, gumbo and jambalaya.
For a state that loves its food, luckily, the cost of living in Louisiana for food costs are on the low side. Total average grocery costs are 4.4 percent below the national average. Louisianians are actually among the lowest spenders nationally on annual and monthly food costs. The average person spends between $200 and $233 a month on food. That comes out to between $2,400 and $2,800 annually.
Similar to the statewide average, food costs in most Louisiana cities are below the national average:
- Alexandria is 5.7 percent below the national average
- New Orleans is 3.9 percent below the national average
- Baton Rouge is 3.1 percent below the national average
- Shreveport is 0.7 percent below the national average
- Lafayette is 4.9 percent above the national average
Lafayette is the exception, rising above the national average. Consequently, the prices for some basic food items are more expensive here. A dozen eggs cost $3.35 in Lafayette but are $1.79 in Baton Rouge. But food prices do vary between cities, so costs in Lafayette won’t always be the most expensive. For instance, a loaf of bread is $3.59 in Lafayette but $4.07 in Shreveport.
Louisiana utility prices
In most Louisiana cities, total utility costs for services like electricity, water and internet are below the national average. For electricity, Louisiana gets its power from a mix of natural gas, coal and nuclear power resources. Underground aquifers and surface water resources provide the state’s water.
Let’s see how the cost of utilities in these Louisiana cities compares to the national average:
- Baton Rouge is 25.5 percent below the national average
- New Orleans is 19.2 percent below the national average
- Shreveport is 13.1 percent below the national part
- Lafayette is 11.3 percent below the national average
- Alexandria is 3.3 percent above the national average
For energy costs, Lafayette is the most expensive city. When that monthly energy bill comes, expect a price of around $142.85. Baton Rouge has the least expensive monthly energy costs at $99.50. This makes sense considering it’s also the lowest for total utility costs.
For other utility costs, the average water bill in Louisiana is $33. The average internet bill is $59.99, but it can go higher in some cities.
Louisiana transportation prices
Many Louisiana parishes (the local equivalent of a county) and cities offer some form of public transportation. In more rural parishes, these services are sometimes limited to transportation for the elderly or those with disabilities. But, in big cities like New Orleans and Shreveport, you’ll find more extensive, widespread systems to help you navigate the cities. Always helpful for the cost of living in Louisiana.
Using mass transit in your area has many benefits. For one thing, it can help you save money on gas. If you live in a major city, it can reduce commuting times and help cut down on traffic congestion by reducing the number of vehicles on the road. Finally, it’s more friendly to the environment. On top of all this, total transportation costs in most Louisiana cities are below the national average:
- Alexandria is 5.9 percent below the national average
- Shreveport is 4.4 percent below the national average
- New Orleans is 1.7 percent below the national average
- Lafayette is 0.4 percent below the national average
- Baton Rouge is 13.5 percent above the national average
Baton Rouge is the sole outlier, with transportation costs significantly above the national average.
All these cities have public transit, but some systems are more extensive than others. For a quick overview of mass transit in Alexandria and Lafayette, here’s how locals in those cities can get around those cities with local public transit. ATRANS provides bus service to Alexandria and neighboring Pineville with beginning fares of $0.75. The Lafayette Transit System operates 12 bus systems around the city during the day, with one-way fares costing $1.
Let’s take a closer look at the more extensive public transportation options in Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Shreveport.
CATS in Baton Rouge
The Capital Area Transit System operates 25 bus routes around the city of Baton Rouge and the surrounding parish. In addition to city transit, the outer routes provide access to the airport and the Ochsner Medical Center. CATS also offers an on-demand ride-share service called LYNX which costs $1.75 a ride. For rides on the fixed-route buses, a single ride costs $1.75. Unlimited 7-day passes cost $19 and a monthly pass is $56.
Having a car or using the bus is handy for getting around town since Baton Rouge isn’t especially pedestrian or cyclist-friendly. Its walk and bike scores are 41 and 46, respectively.
While there are no tolled roads around town, Louisiana Highway 1 runs past the city to the west. For a standard 2-axle passenger vehicle, the toll rate is $3.75 to use the highway.
RTA in New Orleans
Consisting of 34 bus routes, five streetcar lines and two ferry routes, the Regional Transit Authority provides a wide range of transportation options to residents of Crescent City. The streetcar lines are also popular with out-of-town visitors and come with a bit of history attached. The St. Charles line was first founded in 1835, making it the country’s longest continually operating streetcar. The two ferry routes offer transportation across the Mississippi River in the heart of the city.
Fare costs vary depending on the type of transit you’re using. Single ride fares on buses or streetcars are $1.25 with free transfers. Passes are available with the Jazzy Pass, costing $15 for a week and $45 for 31 days. For the ferry, a single ride is $2.
The closest toll road to New Orleans is the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway. Extending across Lake Pontchartrain connecting the north and south shores of the lake, it’s the longest continuous bridge over a body of water in the world. Tolls cost $5 in cash on the North Shore or $3 with a tag.
While you certainly can use the charming streetcars or buses to get around town, you can truly embrace that Big Easy energy by walking or biking. This is easy due to New Orleans’ high walk score of 72 and high bike score of 75. The city center, home to renowned neighborhoods like the French Quarter, is famously walkable.
SporTran in Shreveport
SporTran operates 22 different bus routes around Shreveport and Bossier City. It has the distinction of being one of the South’s oldest mass transit systems, first starting out as mule-drawn carts in the 1870s. Today, the fleet has (thankfully) been upgraded to buses and lift vans.
Single ride fares on SporTran buses are $1.25, with weekly passes for $15 and monthly passes for $40. However, the system is currently implementing a pilot program offering free bus rides within the city limits of Shreveport and Bossier City. This free fare program is in place for two years starting from January 2022.
The tolled Louisiana Highway 1 passes through Shreveport, with toll fares of $3.75 for 2-axle passenger vehicles.
Using the bus or having a car is a good idea for getting around Shreveport. With a walk score of 39 and a bike score of 45, it’s not the easiest city to navigate on foot or by bike.
Louisiana healthcare prices
How much you’ll pay in healthcare costs depends on where you live in Louisiana. But the cost of living in Louisiana for healthcare is tricky. It’s hard to come up with average costs for healthcare since prices are different between people. Some people pay more for healthcare due to pre-existing conditions or a need for more expensive medication. So, even if you live in a city with higher healthcare costs, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be paying the same amount.
To give you a rough overview, here’s the average cost of a doctor’s visit in these Louisiana cities:
- Alexandria: $75
- Baton Rouge: $119.22
- Lafayette: $125.35
- New Orleans: $166.67
- Shreveport: $112
In most Louisiana cities, the cost of healthcare is below the national average, with two exceptions:
- Baton Rouge is 10 percent below the national average
- Alexandria is 5.8 percent below the national average
- Lafayette is 1.3 percent below the national average
- Shreveport is 4.5 percent above the national average
- New Orleans is 17.4 percent above the national average
For doctor visits and total healthcare costs, New Orleans is the most expensive city in the state. The price for going to the dentist is also highest here at $123.33. Baton Rouge is the least expensive city to see your dentist, costing $95.33.
It’s unfortunate to say, but the below-average healthcare costs in most Louisiana cities could mean below-average or average care. Louisiana is ranked 46th in the nation for healthcare, with especially low marks for quality and overall public health. The state consistently ranks low for public health, a problem that healthcare providers and health officials are attempting to tackle with initiatives like Healthy State. One reason healthcare prices are higher than the national average in New Orleans and Shreveport is that they have the top-ranked hospitals in the state. Hopefully, the quality of the care matches the higher prices.
Louisiana goods and services prices
Along with housing, food, utilities and other essentials, you’ll also need to set money aside each month for miscellaneous goods and services, another cost of living of Louisiana. This includes basic items and services you purchase on a regular basis like ibuprofen or getting a haircut.
Let’s see how these and the cost of other assorted goods and services compare to the national average:
- Alexandria is 7.9 percent below the national average
- Lafayette is 3.1 percent below the national average
- New Orleans is 1.6 percent above the national average
- Baton Rouge is 3.2 percent above the national average
- Shreveport is 5.3 percent above the national average
Compared to the national average, Shreveport, Baton Rouge and New Orleans are generally the most expensive. Most costs reflect this, with items or services being more expensive in bigger cities. Movie tickets cost $12.64 in Baton Rouge compared to $9.80 in Alexandria. But prices don’t always reflect their city’s rank. While Lafayette is one of the least expensive cities compared to the national average, it’s the most expensive place to get a haircut, setting you back $24.33. You’ll pay the least to get your hair cut in Alexandria at $15.83.
Taxes in Louisiana
Whether it’s being taken out of your paycheck in the form of income tax or sales tax added to a purchase, the cost of living in Louisiana for taxes can also have a big impact on a monthly budget. That’s why it’s important to take note of what a state and city’s local tax rates are.
In Louisiana, the statewide sales tax rate is 4.45 percent. If it’s crawfish season and you spend $1,000 on crawfish, you’ll be paying $45 extra in sales tax, bringing the grand total up to $1,045. For a statewide sales tax, that’s not too bad. But most cities and parishes in Louisiana levy their own sales tax, as well, bringing the local tax rate up:
- Shreveport has a combined tax of 9.05 percent
- New Orleans has a combined tax of 9.45 percent
- Alexandria has a combined tax of 9.95 percent
- Lafayette has a combined tax of 10.45 percent
- Baton Rouge has a combined tax of 11.95 percent
The addition of parish and local sales tax makes the overall rate jump significantly. Baton Rouge is the most expensive city on our list, with sales tax on $1,000 worth of purchases coming out to $119.50 extra in taxes. Shreveport has the lowest sales tax rate, but you’re still paying a fair amount at $90.50. Louisiana has one of the highest combined sales tax rates in the U.S.
News is slightly better on the income tax front. Their graduated individual income tax system ranges from 1.85 percent to 4.25 percent.
How much do I need to earn to live in Louisiana?
Are you ready to head to the Bayou State? The cost of living in Louisiana is generally affordable compared to the national average. But does it fit your budget?
To determine if you can afford to live in a particular city or state, you need to figure out if you can afford to pay for housing there. This is because housing costs like rent or a mortgage is the biggest monthly expense. With that in mind, it’s recommended that you only spend 30 percent of your gross monthly income on rent. This leaves 70 percent left for other necessities like food, as well as non-essentials. While the 30 percent recommendation isn’t a strict rule, it’s considered a good financial practice.
The average rent in Louisiana is $1,201, meaning you’d need to make $4,003 a month or $48,036 annually. Average salaries here range from $20,961 to $95,155, but the median household income is $50,800 and per capita income is $53,962. So, housing should fall comfortably within the budgets of most Louisiana residents.
Use our rent calculator to calculate what you can afford in rent in different parts of Louisiana.
Living in Louisiana
From diverse food to outdoor adventures, you can always find a good time in Louisiana. With so many appealing things to see and do, the affordable cost of living in Louisiana is just a lagniappe, a little something extra that sweetens the deal. Even if you’re priced out of popular hubs like New Orleans, you’ll find similar vibes in nearby cities with different cost of living indexes to fit different budgets.
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