Cost of living index

Monroe, LA

83.6 / 100

Living in Monroe, LA is 16.4% cheaper than the US average — the #387 of 387 highest nationally.

Median rent: $897/mo

Median home value: $163,000

Figures — including the cost index, median rent, and median home value — cover the wider Monroe, LA metropolitan area, not individual neighbourhoods or city boundaries.

Winter
59° / 38°F
(15° / 3°C)
15 in precip
Spring
77° / 55°F
(25° / 13°C)
15.5 in precip
Summer
92° / 71°F
(33° / 22°C)
11.9 in precip
Fall
78° / 54°F
(26° / 12°C)
12.7 in precip

30-year climate normals (1991–2020) from MONROE RGNL AP, via NOAA.

The Monroe, LA metro area has an overall price level of 83.6 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 16.4% lower than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 42.8 it is 57.2% below the national average. Housing rents are often one of the largest sources of difference between metro areas, so this figure can have a significant impact when comparing locations.

Overall#387 of 387
83.6
Goods#354 of 387
93.7
Housing rents#386 of 387
42.8
Utilities#369 of 387
72.2
Other services#333 of 387
95.7

Monroe, LA is moved down the most by housing rents, at 42.8 vs a US average of 100, while the closest to average is other services.

See all 10 metros in Louisiana →See the cheapest and most expensive US metros →

Figures on this page come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities dataset, 2024 — the most recent year published. An index of 100 marks the national average; a metro above 100 has higher prices than a typical US metro, below 100 lower. Median rent and median home value are from the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-year estimates, and seasonal weather is from NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals. These are regional figures only, not a complete personal budget — they don’t account for individual spending habits, taxes, or household circumstances. See the full methodology for how the index and salary-equivalent estimates are calculated.

Compare My City is an independent project and is not operated by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Census Bureau, or NOAA.

Is Monroe, LA an expensive place to live?

Monroe, LA has an overall cost-of-living index of 83.6, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 16.4% cheaper than the country as a whole.

Is housing expensive in Monroe, LA?

Housing rents in Monroe, LA score 42.8 against a US average of 100 — roughly 57.2% below average. Housing rents are often the main driver of differences in overall price levels between metro areas.

How does Monroe, LA compare to the US average cost of living?

Overall prices in Monroe, LA sit at 83.6 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 42.8. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.