Best places to live in Louisiana
CityLedger tracks 9 Louisiana metros, led by Slidell. Cost of living runs from about 84 to 93 against a U.S. average of 100. Every figure below is computed from public U.S. government data and links to a full profile.
CityLedger tracks 9 metros in Louisiana, the largest being the New Orleans-Metairie, LA Metro Area (around 966,230 people). Across the state, median household income runs from $55,909 in Alexandria to $82,337 in Slidell, and typical rent from $899 a month in Alexandria upward — a reminder that "Louisiana" is really several different housing and job markets, not one.
Monroe has the lowest overall price level in the state (about 84 versus a U.S. average of 100), but the cheapest metro isn't always where money goes furthest. Adjusting income for local prices, Slidell delivers the best real buying power — a cost-adjusted median of about $88,796.
Taxes shift the picture in ways a cost-of-living index alone misses: Louisiana levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower here than in no-income-tax states at the same salary, and combined state and local sales tax averages about 10.1% (Tax Foundation). Our salary calculator folds federal, FICA, and Louisiana state tax into a single take-home figure for any metro here.
Slidell earns the state's highest CityLedger livability score, 57/100; Lake Charles is the fastest-growing, up 16.6% over the latest population estimate; Monroe carries the lowest natural-hazard loss rate, about $9 per $10,000 of property (FEMA). Open any metro below for the full, sourced breakdown behind these figures.
| Metro | Livability | Cost of living | Median income | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slidell, LA | 57 | 93 | $82,337 | $1,305/mo |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 40 | 91 | $69,293 | $1,138/mo |
| Houma, LA | 38 | 85 | $62,338 | $980/mo |
| New Orleans, LA | 36 | 93 | $62,373 | $1,262/mo |
| Lake Charles, LA | 34 | 86 | $65,144 | $977/mo |
| Lafayette, LA | 33 | 87 | $60,527 | $968/mo |
| Monroe, LA | 32 | 84 | $56,468 | $928/mo |
| Alexandria, LA | 31 | 86 | $55,909 | $899/mo |
| Shreveport, LA | 28 | 85 | $57,514 | $990/mo |
Browse every metro on the cities index or the rankings.
Living in Louisiana — frequently asked
- What is the most affordable metro in Louisiana?
- By overall price level, Monroe is the most affordable metro in Louisiana, at about 84 against a U.S. average of 100 (BEA Regional Price Parities). Affordability also depends on local pay — see where a paycheck stretches furthest below.
- Where does a paycheck go furthest in Louisiana?
- Slidell has the highest cost-adjusted income in Louisiana — a median of about $88,796 once local prices are factored in, meaning typical pay buys the most there.
- Does Louisiana have a state income tax?
- Yes. Louisiana levies a state income tax, which lowers take-home pay relative to no-income-tax states; combined state and local sales tax also averages about 10.1%. Our salary calculator estimates the exact take-home for each metro.
- Which Louisiana metro has the highest livability score?
- Slidell, at 57/100 on CityLedger's livability score — a transparent blend of affordability, jobs, income, education, and commute, all from public data.