CostIndexUSA

Baltimore, MD vs Monroe, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

MD
Baltimore
104.5
overall index
$1,850/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Monroe
83.6
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

Monroe is significantly cheaper than Baltimore — 20.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Baltimore, you would need $64,000 in Monroe. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing−63.8%
Baltimore
118.2
Monroe
42.8
🛒 Groceries−8.5%
Baltimore
102.4
Monroe
93.7
🚗 Transportation−5.7%
Baltimore
106.6
Monroe
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−5.7%
Baltimore
96.4
Monroe
90.9
⚡ Utilities−34.5%
Baltimore
110.2
Monroe
72.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Baltimore to see what you'd need to earn in Monroe to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
→
Equivalent salary in Monroe, LA
$64,000
$16,000 less needed in Monroe

Formula: salary × (83.6 ÷ 104.5) = salary × 0.8000. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Baltimore, MD

Median Home Price
$391,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,850
Housing Index
118.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.6×

Monroe, LA

Median Home Price
$157,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
42.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.9×

Baltimore has 63.8% lower housing costs compared to Monroe.

Income & Job Market

Baltimore, MD

Median Household Income
$94,300
Per Capita Income
$53,800
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
585,708
Top Industries
HealthcareGovernmentFinanceEducationManufacturing

Monroe, LA

Median Household Income
$50,300
Per Capita Income
$28,700
Unemployment Rate
7.3%
Population
47,252
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingGovernmentRetail

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Baltimore, MD
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Monroe, LA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Baltimore vs other cities

Baltimore, MD
vs
Hagerstown, MD
Index: 104.5Index: 94.2
Baltimore, MD
vs
Milwaukee, WI
Index: 104.5Index: 96.9
Baltimore, MD
vs
Albuquerque, NM
Index: 104.5Index: 95.5
Baltimore, MD
vs
Tucson, AZ
Index: 104.5Index: 96.9
Baltimore, MD
vs
Fresno, CA
Index: 104.5Index: 102.2

Monroe vs other cities

Monroe, LA
vs
Baton Rouge, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 90.8
Monroe, LA
vs
Lafayette, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 87.2
Monroe, LA
vs
Lake Charles, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 85.9
Monroe, LA
vs
Charleston, WV
Index: 83.6Index: 88.7
Monroe, LA
vs
San Luis Obispo, CA
Index: 83.6Index: 108.6

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.