Cost of Living in Louisiana (LA)
Compare costs across 4 Louisiana cities. From home services to salaries, see how LA stacks up against the national average.
Is Louisiana Affordable?
Louisiana's average cost index is 89, which is below the national baseline of 100. Shreveport is the most affordable tracked city in LA at index 82, while New Orleans is the most expensive at index 97.
The gap between the cheapest and most expensive tracked cities is 15 index points, so state-level averages should be used as a map, not a final budget.
What Drives the Statewide Cost Picture?
Louisiana is below the national cost baseline across tracked cities.
Shreveport has a cost index of 82.
New Orleans has a cost index of 97.
Average median household income across 4 tracked LA cities.
Cheapest and Most Expensive Cities in Louisiana
| City | Population | Cost Index | Median Income | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | 384K | 97 | $46K | large |
| Baton Rouge | 227K | 90 | $42K | mid |
| Shreveport | 187K | 82 | $34K | mid |
| Lafayette | 121K | 86 | $47K | mid |
Louisiana State Taxes (2026)
Headline tax rates that affect your real take-home pay and total cost of living in Louisiana.
State Planning Checklist
- Start with Shreveport if the priority is lowest recurring cost inside Louisiana.
- Compare New Orleans against salary and tax advantages before assuming the higher-cost city is worse.
- Use city pages for rent, salary, insurance, and local service costs before making a relocation decision.
Cost by Category Across Louisiana
Business Startup Costs
Legal Services
Compare Cities Within Louisiana
Explore Other States
Popular Louisiana cost & affordability searches
- → Cost of living in New Orleans, LA
- → Cost of living in Baton Rouge, LA
- → Cost of living in Shreveport, LA
- → Cost of living in Lafayette, LA
- → Average rent in New Orleans, LA
- → Average rent in Baton Rouge, LA
- → Average rent in Shreveport, LA
- → Salary needed to live in New Orleans
- → Salary needed to live in Baton Rouge
- → Salary needed to live in Shreveport
Frequently Asked Questions: Louisiana Cost of Living
What is the cost of living in Louisiana?
Louisiana's average cost-of-living index is 89, which is 11% below the U.S. baseline of 100. Across 4 tracked cities, costs span from index 82 in Shreveport to 97 in New Orleans.
What is the cheapest city to live in Louisiana?
Shreveport is the most affordable tracked city in Louisiana, with a cost index of 82 — roughly 18% below the national average.
What is the most expensive city in Louisiana?
New Orleans is the most expensive tracked city in Louisiana, at a cost index of 97. The gap between Shreveport and New Orleans is 15 index points, so always budget at the city level.
What is the average household income in Louisiana?
The average median household income across 4 tracked Louisiana cities is about $42,052 per year.
Does Louisiana have a state income tax?
Yes. Louisiana levies a progressive state income tax at 1.85-4.25%, which affects your real take-home pay.
How much is sales tax in Louisiana?
The combined sales tax in Louisiana averages 9.55% — 4.45% at the state level plus 5.1% in average local tax.