Louisiana
LASouth · 10 cities tracked · Updated 2026
Louisiana is cheaper than the national average. Across the 10 cities we track, the cost of living index averages 90 (US = 100) and typical rent averages $1,265 a month, 35% below the national figure of $1,932.
State Averages
Avg Gas Price
$3.55
Regular unleaded
Avg Rent
$1,265
All units/mo
Avg COL Index
90
vs. 100 national avg
Louisiana Cost of Living Analysis
Where the money goes
The biggest cost pressure in Louisiana is car insurance, at 62% above the national average. The biggest break is rent, at 35% below it.
Rent trend
Rent rose an average of 5.1% over the past year across the 10 cities we track, faster than the 2.7% national change. Lake Charles saw the biggest move (up 18.9%), while Opelousas was up just 0.0%.
City to city
Where you live inside Louisiana matters. Typical rent runs from $858 in Opelousas to $1,577 in New Orleans, a gap of $719 a month or about $8,628 a year.
Affordability
Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance take about 47% of median household income in the counties we track, which ranks the 9th highest of 51 states. Median household income there averages $58,123 (Census ACS 2023). Groceries are counted at what the average household in the region spends on food at home (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey).
Energy and driving
Regular gas costs $3.55 a gallon, 11% below the $3.98 national average. A typical electric bill runs about $116 a month versus $166 nationally, and full coverage car insurance averages $3,480 a year versus $2,150.
Groceries
Grocery prices in the South rose 1.7% over the past year (BLS food at home), compared with 1.8% nationally. Item prices on our city pages are national BLS averages, so local stores may be higher or lower.
Built from the AAA, Zillow, EIA, Bankrate, BLS and Census data on this site. National comparisons use typical rent of $1,932 a month and gas of $3.98 a gallon. See the methodology.
Cities in Louisiana
Baton Rouge
Louisiana
Gas
$3.55
Rent
$1,366
Food ↑
+1.8%
New Orleans
Louisiana
Gas
$3.55
Rent
$1,577
Food ↑
+1.8%
Lafayette
Louisiana
Gas
$3.55
Rent
$1,385
Food ↑
+1.8%
Shreveport
Louisiana
Gas
$3.55
Rent
$1,282
Food ↑
+1.8%
Lake Charles
Louisiana
Gas
$3.55
Rent
$1,358
Food ↑
+1.8%
Houma
Louisiana
Gas
$3.55
Rent
$1,302
Food ↑
+1.8%
Monroe
Louisiana
Gas
$3.55
Rent
$1,180
Food ↑
+1.8%
Alexandria
Louisiana
Gas
$3.55
Rent
$1,029
Food ↑
+1.8%
Hammond
Louisiana
Gas
$3.55
Rent
$1,315
Food ↑
+1.8%
Opelousas
Louisiana
Gas
$3.55
Rent
$858
Food ↑
+1.8%
Median Household Income by County
Source: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · 64 counties
| County | Median Income |
|---|---|
| 1Ascension Parish | $92,266 |
| 2West Baton Rouge Parish | $87,320 |
| 3Plaquemines Parish | $82,874 |
| 4St. Charles Parish | $82,172 |
| 5St. Tammany Parish | $79,277 |
| 6Livingston Parish | $78,617 |
| 7West Feliciana Parish | $74,277 |
| 8East Feliciana Parish | $72,899 |
| 9Cameron Parish | $72,500 |
| 10Calcasieu Parish | $67,849 |
| 11Lafayette Parish | $67,660 |
| 12St. John the Baptist Parish | $67,418 |
| 13LaSalle Parish | $67,077 |
| 14Bossier Parish | $66,336 |
| 15Jefferson Parish | $65,246 |
| 16Beauregard Parish | $64,995 |
| 17Terrebonne Parish | $64,819 |
| 18St. James Parish | $64,536 |
| 19Lafourche Parish | $63,439 |
| 20East Baton Rouge Parish | $63,075 |
| 21Grant Parish | $61,112 |
| 22Pointe Coupee Parish | $59,351 |
| 23Vernon Parish | $58,281 |
| 24Iberia Parish | $57,811 |
| 25St. Bernard Parish | $57,638 |
| 26Vermilion Parish | $57,537 |
| 27Iberville Parish | $57,459 |
| 28Tangipahoa Parish | $57,256 |
| 29Jefferson Davis Parish | $56,500 |
| 30Rapides Parish | $55,946 |
| 31Orleans Parish | $55,339 |
| 32St. Martin Parish | $53,394 |
| 33Richland Parish | $52,960 |
| 34Assumption Parish | $52,546 |
| 35Sabine Parish | $52,047 |
| 36St. Mary Parish | $51,768 |
| 37Ouachita Parish | $51,241 |
| 38Allen Parish | $51,138 |
| 39St. Helena Parish | $50,193 |
| 40Caddo Parish | $50,067 |
| 41West Carroll Parish | $48,514 |
| 42Catahoula Parish | $47,753 |
| 43Natchitoches Parish | $46,798 |
| 44Winn Parish | $46,368 |
| 45De Soto Parish | $46,077 |
| 46Union Parish | $45,743 |
| 47St. Landry Parish | $45,637 |
| 48Acadia Parish | $45,266 |
| 49Caldwell Parish | $44,957 |
| 50Red River Parish | $44,539 |
| 51Franklin Parish | $44,103 |
| 52Jackson Parish | $43,345 |
| 53Washington Parish | $42,776 |
| 54Evangeline Parish | $42,273 |
| 55Avoyelles Parish | $39,439 |
| 56Lincoln Parish | $38,035 |
| 57Webster Parish | $37,396 |
| 58Concordia Parish | $37,349 |
| 59Madison Parish | $37,267 |
| 60Morehouse Parish | $36,981 |
| 61Tensas Parish | $36,074 |
| 62Bienville Parish | $34,992 |
| 63Claiborne Parish | $31,784 |
| 64East Carroll Parish | $28,321 |
Louisiana Cost of Living FAQ
Is Louisiana expensive to live in?
Louisiana is about 10% cheaper than the national average. Across the 10 cities we track, the cost of living index averages 90, where 100 is the US average.
What is the average rent in Louisiana?
Typical rent in Louisiana averages $1,265 a month across the 10 cities we track as of September 2026, 35% below the national typical rent of $1,932. That ranks the 10th lowest of 51 states. The figure is the Zillow Observed Rent Index for all home types.
What is the cheapest city to live in Louisiana?
Of the 10 cities we track in Louisiana, Baton Rouge has the lowest cost of living index at 88. The lowest typical rent is in Opelousas, at $858 a month.
What is the most expensive city in Louisiana?
New Orleans has the highest cost of living index of the cities we track in Louisiana, at 92. The highest typical rent is in New Orleans, at $1,577 a month.
How much is gas in Louisiana?
Regular unleaded averages $3.55 a gallon in Louisiana as of November 11, 2026 (AAA state average), 11% below the national average of $3.98. That is the 5th cheapest of 51 states.
Is rent going up in Louisiana?
Rent in Louisiana rose an average of 5.1% over the past year across the 10 cities we track, compared with a 2.7% change nationally.
How much is electricity in Louisiana?
Residential electricity in Louisiana averages 12.9 cents per kWh (EIA), versus 18.4 cents nationally. At 900 kWh a month, a typical bill is about $116.
How much is car insurance in Louisiana?
Full coverage car insurance in Louisiana averages $3,480 a year, or about $290 a month (Bankrate and NAIC), compared with $2,150 a year nationally. That is the highest of 51 states.