CostIndexUSA

Houston, TX vs Monroe, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TX
Houston
98.6
overall index
$1,600/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Monroe
83.6
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

Monroe is significantly cheaper than Houston — 15.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Houston, you would need $67,800 in Monroe. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−59.0%
Houston
104.5
Monroe
42.8
🛒 Groceries−6.9%
Houston
100.6
Monroe
93.7
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Houston
100.4
Monroe
100.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Houston
90.8
Monroe
90.9
⚡ Utilities−24.2%
Houston
95.3
Monroe
72.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Monroe, LA
$67,800
$12,200 less needed in Monroe

Formula: salary × (83.6 ÷ 98.6) = salary × 0.8479. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Houston, TX

Median Home Price
$302,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,600
Housing Index
104.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.7×

Monroe, LA

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

Houston has 59.0% lower housing costs compared to Monroe.

Income & Job Market

Houston, TX

Median Household Income
$79,500
Per Capita Income
$45,300
Unemployment Rate
5.2%
Population
2,304,580
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareAerospaceManufacturingLogistics

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).

Houston, TX
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)

Houston vs other cities

Houston, TX
vs
Abilene, TX
Index: 98.6Index: 90.4
Houston, TX
vs
Amarillo, TX
Index: 98.6Index: 91.8
Houston, TX
vs
Arlington, TX
Index: 98.6Index: 103.1
Houston, TX
vs
Chicago, IL
Index: 98.6Index: 103.6
Houston, TX
vs
Phoenix, AZ
Index: 98.6Index: 103.3

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.