What is the cost of living in Monroe, LA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Monroe has an overall cost of living index of 90, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Louisiana, Monroe has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Louisiana's index of 91.
The standard of living in Monroe ranks as #23 most affordable out of the 103 places we measured in Louisiana. By definition, that implies Monroe ranks as the #80 most expensive place in the Pelican State.
For more reading on life in Monroe, check out:
Monroe Cost Of Living Vs. Louisiana
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Monroe. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Monroe is 99.
The Groceries index in Monroe is 97.
The Health index in Monroe is 79.
The Housing index in Monroe is 101.
The Transportation index in Monroe is 102.
The Utilities index in Monroe is 94.
| Living Expense | Monroe | Louisiana | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 90 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 79 | 82 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 94 | 96 | 100 |
Monroe Cost Of Living Compared To Louisiana Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Louisiana, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Monroe Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Monroe, LA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Louisiana, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Monroe is $149,717.
The Median Rent in Monroe is $886.
The Median Income in Monroe is $40,505.
The Home Value To Income in Monroe is 3.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Monroe is 0.26x.
Monroe, LA Costs By Category
Detailed Monroe Services costs vs. Louisiana
Detailed Monroe Groceries costs vs. Louisiana
Detailed Monroe Health costs vs. Louisiana
Detailed Monroe Transportation costs vs. Louisiana
Monroe SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Monroe
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Monroe. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Ruston, LA has a cost of living index of 94, 1.0x Monroe.
Claiborne, LA has a cost of living index of 98, 1.1x Monroe.
West Monroe, LA has a cost of living index of 90, 1.0x Monroe.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ruston, LA | 22,284 | 94 | 1.0x |
| Claiborne, LA | 13,308 | 98 | 1.1x |
| West Monroe, LA | 12,729 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Bastrop, LA | 9,232 | 82 | 0.9x |
