CostIndexUSA

Hartford, CT vs Monroe, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CT
Hartford
102.7
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Monroe
83.6
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

Monroe is significantly cheaper than Hartford — 18.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Hartford, you would need $65,100 in Monroe. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−61.2%
Hartford
110.2
Monroe
42.8
🛒 Groceries−3.7%
Hartford
97.3
Monroe
93.7
🚗 Transportation−6.8%
Hartford
107.8
Monroe
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−6.8%
Hartford
97.5
Monroe
90.9
⚡ Utilities−50.2%
Hartford
144.9
Monroe
72.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Monroe, LA
$65,100
$14,900 less needed in Monroe

Formula: salary × (83.6 ÷ 102.7) = salary × 0.8140. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Hartford, CT

Median Home Price
$377,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,875
Housing Index
110.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.8×

Monroe, LA

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

Hartford has 61.2% lower housing costs compared to Monroe.

Income & Job Market

Hartford, CT

Median Household Income
$92,200
Per Capita Income
$52,600
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
121,054
Top Industries
FinanceInsuranceHealthcareGovernmentEducation

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).

Hartford, CT
4.1×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)

Hartford vs other cities

Hartford, CT
vs
Bridgeport, CT
Index: 102.7Index: 106.9
Hartford, CT
vs
New Haven, CT
Index: 102.7Index: 104.6
Hartford, CT
vs
Waterbury, CT
Index: 102.7Index: 99.8
Hartford, CT
vs
Vallejo, CA
Index: 102.7Index: 108.5
Hartford, CT
vs
Rochester, MN
Index: 102.7Index: 90.8

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.