Before you decide to relocate to Louisiana, it’s important to research the exact cost of living around the state. And that’s what we’re going to help you do.
These are the places in Louisiana that cost a pretty penny — the most expensive cities in the state.
We used Saturday Night Science to compare the 2018-2022 American Community Survey on cost of living for the 60 places in Louisiana with more than 5,000 people.
After we saved up for months and could finally afford it, we landed on this list of the ten most expensive cities in Louisiana for 2024.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Louisiana For 2024
What’s the most expensive place to live in Louisiana? Well, HomeSnacks crunched the numbers and discovered that Mandeville is the most expensive place to live in Louisiana.
Tallulah (the cheapest place to live in Louisiana) can show these guys how to live on a budget in the coming years. Read on for how these places had costs rise faster than inflation.
And if you already knew these places were expensive, check out some more reading about Louisiana and the most expensive cities in the country:
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Louisiana For 2024
/10
Population: 13,194
Cost Of Living Index: 108
Median Income: $84,886
Average Home Price: $349,833
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.1x
More on Mandeville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Mandeville is 108. The median income in Mandeville comes in at $84,886 and the average home value is $349,833 for 2024.
/10
Population: 15,990
Cost Of Living Index: 104
Median Income: $111,619
Average Home Price: $268,782
Home Price To Income Ratio: 2.4x
More on Youngsville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Youngsville is 104. The median income in Youngsville comes in at $111,619 and the average home value is $268,782 for 2024.
/10
Population: 19,401
Cost Of Living Index: 103
Median Income: $88,811
Average Home Price: $261,425
Home Price To Income Ratio: 2.9x
More on Zachary: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Zachary is 103. The median income in Zachary comes in at $88,811 and the average home value is $261,425 for 2024.
/10
Population: 380,408
Cost Of Living Index: 101
Median Income: $51,116
Average Home Price: $253,741
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.0x
More on New Orleans: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in New Orleans is 101. The median income in New Orleans comes in at $51,116 and the average home value is $253,741 for 2024.
/10
Population: 11,444
Cost Of Living Index: 101
Median Income: $71,719
Average Home Price: $308,256
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.3x
More on Covington: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Covington is 101. The median income in Covington comes in at $71,719 and the average home value is $308,256 for 2024.
/10
Population: 9,043
Cost Of Living Index: 101
Median Income: $75,099
Average Home Price: $284,984
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.8x
More on Harahan: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Harahan is 101. The median income in Harahan comes in at $75,099 and the average home value is $284,984 for 2024.
/10
Population: 65,785
Cost Of Living Index: 98
Median Income: $60,557
Average Home Price: $228,773
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.8x
More on Kenner: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Kenner is 98. The median income in Kenner comes in at $60,557 and the average home value is $228,773 for 2024.
/10
Population: 29,518
Cost Of Living Index: 98
Median Income: $82,714
Average Home Price: $266,955
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.2x
More on Central: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Central is 98. The median income in Central comes in at $82,714 and the average home value is $266,955 for 2024.
/10
Population: 62,971
Cost Of Living Index: 97
Median Income: $54,100
Average Home Price: $210,237
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.9x
More on Bossier City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Bossier City is 97. The median income in Bossier City comes in at $54,100 and the average home value is $210,237 for 2024.
/10
Population: 28,690
Cost Of Living Index: 97
Median Income: $63,004
Average Home Price: $224,573
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.6x
More on Slidell: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Slidell is 97. The median income in Slidell comes in at $63,004 and the average home value is $224,573 for 2024.
Methodology: How We Determined The Most Expensive Places To Live In The Pelican State For 2024
The two most important things to think about when it comes to being able to afford a city in Louisiana are:
- How much money do I make?
- How much do I have to spend to live there?
You need to understand your costs in the context of how much money you make.
For example, if the median household earns $100,000 and spends $40,000 on housing, it’s actually cheaper to live there than a place with a median income of $50,000 and housing costs of $21,000. You might spend more on housing, but you have more money overall to play with.
With that example in mind, we derived several statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2018-2022 around incomes and costs. They are:
- Overall Cost Of Living Index
- Median Home Price / Median Income (lower is better)
- Median Income / Median Rent (Higher is better)
- Median Home Price
You can then compare these metrics in each of the places in Louisiana to figure out which is the most expensive.
You are left with a “Cost of Living Index” by taking the average rank of each of these metrics for each city.
So we used that cost of living index to rank all of the 60 places in Louisiana that have more than 5,000 people.
The place with the highest cost of living in Louisiana according to the data is Mandeville. We updated this article for 2024. This article is our tenth time ranking the most expensive places to live in Louisiana.
Summary: Taking A Chunk Out Of Your Paycheck In Louisiana For 2024
Well, there you have it, the places in Louisiana that have the highest cost of living, with Mandeville ranking as the most expensive city in the Pelican State.
The most expensive cities in Louisiana are Mandeville, Youngsville, Zachary, New Orleans, Covington, Harahan, Kenner, Central, Bossier City, and Slidell.
Here’s a look at the most affordable cities in Louisiana according to the data:
- Tallulah
- Oakdale
- Bastrop
For more Louisiana reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Louisiana
- Cheapest Places To Live In Louisiana
- Most Dangerous Places In Louisiana
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Louisiana
- Safest Places In Louisiana
- Worst Places To Live In Louisiana
Most Expensive Cities In Louisiana
| Rank | City | Cost Of Living | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Home/Income Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mandeville | 108 | 13,194 | $84,886 | $349,833 | 4.1x |
| 2 | Youngsville | 104 | 15,990 | $111,619 | $268,782 | 2.4x |
| 3 | Zachary | 103 | 19,401 | $88,811 | $261,425 | 2.9x |
| 4 | New Orleans | 101 | 380,408 | $51,116 | $253,741 | 5.0x |
| 5 | Covington | 101 | 11,444 | $71,719 | $308,256 | 4.3x |
| 6 | Harahan | 101 | 9,043 | $75,099 | $284,984 | 3.8x |
| 7 | Kenner | 98 | 65,785 | $60,557 | $228,773 | 3.8x |
| 8 | Central | 98 | 29,518 | $82,714 | $266,955 | 3.2x |
| 9 | Bossier City | 97 | 62,971 | $54,100 | $210,237 | 3.9x |
| 10 | Slidell | 97 | 28,690 | $63,004 | $224,573 | 3.6x |
| 11 | Broussard | 97 | 13,322 | $94,912 | $270,303 | 2.8x |
| 12 | Baton Rouge | 96 | 225,500 | $50,155 | $214,487 | 4.3x |
| 13 | Addis | 96 | 6,779 | $101,450 | $258,024 | 2.5x |
| 14 | Houma | 95 | 33,094 | $56,823 | $183,681 | 3.2x |
| 15 | Walker | 95 | 6,359 | $86,446 | $236,329 | 2.7x |
| 16 | Lafayette | 94 | 121,706 | $58,850 | $215,488 | 3.7x |
| 17 | Hammond | 94 | 20,239 | $42,049 | $207,291 | 4.9x |
| 18 | Gretna | 94 | 17,640 | $47,010 | $205,631 | 4.4x |
| 19 | Gonzales | 94 | 12,356 | $66,310 | $268,157 | 4.0x |
| 20 | Denham Springs | 94 | 9,393 | $85,625 | $240,723 | 2.8x |
| 21 | Shreveport | 92 | 186,183 | $45,967 | $129,604 | 2.8x |
| 22 | Westwego | 92 | 8,466 | $43,981 | $139,788 | 3.2x |
| 23 | Breaux Bridge | 92 | 7,544 | $45,619 | $170,678 | 3.7x |
| 24 | Scott | 91 | 8,271 | $55,057 | $193,674 | 3.5x |
| 25 | Ponchatoula | 91 | 7,805 | $38,249 | $234,997 | 6.1x |
| 26 | Baker | 90 | 12,463 | $60,555 | $173,779 | 2.9x |
| 27 | Plaquemine | 90 | 6,218 | $69,183 | $157,817 | 2.3x |
| 28 | Ruston | 89 | 22,282 | $32,877 | $210,628 | 6.4x |
| 29 | Morgan City | 89 | 11,373 | $48,857 | $124,983 | 2.6x |
| 30 | Patterson | 89 | 5,868 | $46,189 | $141,190 | 3.1x |
| 31 | Thibodaux | 88 | 15,738 | $51,704 | $218,065 | 4.2x |
| 32 | Minden | 88 | 11,789 | $28,233 | $137,686 | 4.9x |
| 33 | Carencro | 88 | 10,194 | $56,352 | $211,544 | 3.8x |
| 34 | St. Gabriel | 88 | 6,526 | $55,735 | $258,502 | 4.6x |
| 35 | Alexandria | 87 | 45,133 | $49,049 | $127,872 | 2.6x |
| 36 | Natchitoches | 87 | 17,908 | $34,020 | $179,286 | 5.3x |
| 37 | DeRidder | 87 | 9,850 | $56,607 | $142,925 | 2.5x |
| 38 | Sulphur | 86 | 21,286 | $53,606 | $191,566 | 3.6x |
| 39 | Pineville | 86 | 14,357 | $51,752 | $185,246 | 3.6x |
| 40 | Donaldsonville | 86 | 6,799 | $22,110 | $156,759 | 7.1x |
| 41 | Lake Charles | 85 | 82,430 | $54,761 | $188,679 | 3.4x |
| 42 | Monroe | 85 | 47,631 | $36,550 | $135,375 | 3.7x |
| 43 | New Iberia | 84 | 28,363 | $47,108 | $159,856 | 3.4x |
| 44 | Opelousas | 83 | 15,810 | $34,271 | $122,748 | 3.6x |
| 45 | West Monroe | 83 | 12,987 | $47,129 | $184,419 | 3.9x |
| 46 | Abbeville | 83 | 11,213 | $39,566 | $150,812 | 3.8x |
| 47 | Leesville | 83 | 5,681 | $35,652 | $153,245 | 4.3x |
| 48 | Eunice | 82 | 9,440 | $37,828 | $115,673 | 3.1x |
| 49 | Ville Platte | 82 | 6,364 | $24,341 | $116,096 | 4.8x |
| 50 | Marksville | 82 | 5,034 | $33,635 | $125,081 | 3.7x |
| 51 | Crowley | 81 | 11,726 | $28,827 | $109,244 | 3.8x |
| 52 | Jennings | 81 | 9,819 | $39,888 | $94,670 | 2.4x |
| 53 | Bogalusa | 80 | 10,689 | $39,213 | $82,743 | 2.1x |
| 54 | Franklin | 80 | 6,666 | $39,068 | $97,289 | 2.5x |
| 55 | Grambling | 80 | 5,315 | $25,050 | $126,622 | 5.1x |
| 56 | Rayne | 79 | 7,223 | $34,725 | $156,551 | 4.5x |
| 57 | St. Martinville | 78 | 5,447 | $32,781 | $134,241 | 4.1x |
| 58 | Bastrop | 76 | 9,623 | $29,286 | $74,979 | 2.6x |
| 59 | Oakdale | 76 | 6,701 | $46,250 | $85,581 | 1.9x |
| 60 | Tallulah | 73 | 6,290 | $31,070 | $81,815 | 2.6x |