Cost of living in Louisiana
Prices in Louisiana are 11.8% below the US average (47th highest of 51). A single filer on $75,000 pays $1,865 in state income tax. State sales tax: 5%.
Price levels in Louisiana
| BEA RPP 2024 | Louisiana | vs US (100) |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 88.2 | −11.8% |
| Goods | 93.7 | −6.3% |
| Housing (rents) | 63.1 | −36.9% |
| Utilities | 71.5 | −28.5% |
| Other services | 95.7 | −4.3% |
Metros in Louisiana
Metros whose principal city is in Louisiana. “Left over” = a single renter earning $60,000, after 2026 taxes (including the principal city’s local tax) and modeled costs.
| Metro | Population | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Infant care / wk* | Left over / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA | 970,849 | 92.6 | $1,480 | $152 | $1,313 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 888,699 | 90.8 | $1,149 | $143 | $1,528 |
| Lafayette, LA | 423,758 | 87.2 | $1,092 | $158 | $1,571 |
| Shreveport, LA | 383,474 | 84.8 | $1,045 | $157 | $1,616 |
| Slidell, LA | 279,108 | 92.7 | $1,354 | $158 | $1,378 |
| Lake Charles, LA | 244,655 | 85.9 | $1,231 | $153 | $1,601 |
| Monroe, LA | 222,390 | 83.6 | $1,017 | $157 | $1,748 |
| Houma, LA | 199,668 | 85.1 | $1,098 | $150 | $1,639 |
| Alexandria, LA | 147,952 | 85.7 | $995 | $157 | $1,746 |
| Hammond, LA | 141,346 | 84.5 | $1,097 | $158 | $1,688 |
*Center-based, DOL 2022 price for the metro’s principal county; a year in brackets marks an older latest-available price. “No data”: DOL publishes no price for that county, and childcare is left out of its budgets.
Taxes in Louisiana (2026)
| Annual tax | Single, $50,000 | Single, $75,000 | Single, $120,000 | Couple, 2 kids, $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 | $5,640 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 | $9,180 |
| Louisiana income tax | $1,115 | $1,865 | $3,215 | $2,830 |
| Louisiana payroll taxes | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,437 | $4,977 | $7,503 | $8,529 |
Annual liability, standard deduction, Child Tax Credit; local income taxes are not included in this state-level table (see each metro). On $75,000, Louisiana’s income and payroll taxes cost $1,865 a year more than in a state without them (federal taxes are the same: $13,408).
Childcare prices across Louisiana
| Age band | Center, median county / wk (2022) | Center / yr today* | Home-based / wk (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $143 | $9,111 | $133 |
| Toddler (2) | $140 | $8,899 | $133 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $137 | $8,726 | $133 |
| School-age (5–12) | $126 | $7,998 | $115 |
Center-based infant care ranges from $120 a week in Pointe Coupee Parish to $160 in LaSalle Parish (2022 prices).
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022; median across 64 counties with 2022 data. *52 weeks × 1.2224 BLS CPI for day care and preschool, 2022 average to 2026-08. Look up a county.
Property taxes by county
Effective rate = Census median real estate taxes ÷ median home value (ACS 2020-2024), metro-area counties.
| County | Median value | Median tax | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orleans Parish | $315,700 | $2,606 | 0.83% |
| St. Tammany Parish | $284,000 | $2,028 | 0.71% |
| East Baton Rouge Parish | $248,800 | $1,656 | 0.67% |
| Bossier Parish | $227,200 | $1,445 | 0.64% |
| West Feliciana Parish | $245,700 | $1,556 | 0.63% |
| Pointe Coupee Parish | $179,300 | $565 | 0.32% |
| Acadia Parish | $155,500 | $483 | 0.31% |
| Jefferson Davis Parish | $150,800 | $442 | 0.29% |
| Richland Parish | $141,900 | $401 | 0.28% |
| East Feliciana Parish | $228,100 | $339 | 0.15% |
Five highest and five lowest of 37 counties.
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05.
Who moves to and from Louisiana
Census state-to-state migration flows (2024 ACS 1-year; people 1 year and over, ± margin of error at 90%). Totals cover moves between states and DC only: 70,992 in, 83,462 out (net −12,470).
- Texas19,850 ±3,560
- Mississippi5,108 ±1,973
- Florida4,570 ±1,864
- Georgia3,919 ±1,695
- California3,544 ±1,536
- Arkansas3,011 ±1,213
- Missouri2,795 ±2,481
- Colorado2,633 ±1,997
- Texas24,170 ±5,369
- Mississippi7,040 ±1,846
- Georgia6,487 ±2,221
- Florida4,215 ±1,576
- California4,078 ±1,478
- Tennessee3,339 ±1,898
- Arkansas3,183 ±1,163
- Illinois2,737 ±1,315
Frequently asked questions
Is Louisiana expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put Louisiana’s overall price level at 88.2 in 2024 (US = 100), the 47th highest of 51 states and DC. Housing is 63.1 and goods 93.7.
Does Louisiana have a state income tax?+
Yes. A single filer earning $75,000 owes about $1,865 in Louisiana income tax under 2026 law (2.5% of pay).
What is the sales tax in Louisiana?+
The state rate is 5% (as of 2026-10-13); groceries are exempt from the state rate. Local sales taxes can add to this.
What is the most affordable metro in Louisiana?+
For a single renter earning $60,000, Monroe, LA leaves the most each month after taxes and modeled costs ($1,748), and New Orleans, LA the least ($1,313).