What is the cost of living in Ponchatoula, LA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Ponchatoula has an overall cost of living index of 95, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Louisiana, Ponchatoula has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Louisiana's index of 91.
The standard of living in Ponchatoula ranks as #50 most affordable out of the 103 places we measured in Louisiana. By definition, that implies Ponchatoula ranks as the #53 most expensive place in the Pelican State.
For more reading on life in Ponchatoula, check out:
Ponchatoula Cost Of Living Vs. Louisiana
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Ponchatoula. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Ponchatoula is 101.
The Groceries index in Ponchatoula is 95.
The Health index in Ponchatoula is 92.
The Housing index in Ponchatoula is 94.
The Transportation index in Ponchatoula is 104.
The Utilities index in Ponchatoula is 93.
| Living Expense | Ponchatoula | Louisiana | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 95 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 95 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 92 | 82 | 100 |
| Housing | 94 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 104 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 93 | 96 | 100 |
Ponchatoula 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 Ponchatoula Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Ponchatoula, 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 Ponchatoula is $247,933.
The Median Rent in Ponchatoula is $762.
The Median Income in Ponchatoula is $51,161.
The Home Value To Income in Ponchatoula is 4.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Ponchatoula is 0.18x.
| Statistic | Ponchatoula | Louisiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $247,933 | $211,634 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $762 | $1,064 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $51,161 | $60,756 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.8x | 3.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.18x | 0.21x | 0.21x |
Ponchatoula, LA Costs By Category
Detailed Ponchatoula Services costs vs. Louisiana
| Item | Ponchatoula | Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.19 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.93 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $19.0 | $18 |
| Haircut | $24.85 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $46.92 | $45.56 |
Detailed Ponchatoula Groceries costs vs. Louisiana
| Item | Ponchatoula | Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.61 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.68 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.53 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.12 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.95 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.71 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.72 | $3.7 |
Detailed Ponchatoula Health costs vs. Louisiana
| Item | Ponchatoula | Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $95.65 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $125.52 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $122.39 | $113.29 |
Detailed Ponchatoula Transportation costs vs. Louisiana
| Item | Ponchatoula | Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.18 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $57.42 | $59.92 |
Detailed Ponchatoula Utilities costs vs. Louisiana
| Item | Ponchatoula | Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $136.13 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.85 | $192.25 |
Ponchatoula SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Ponchatoula
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Ponchatoula. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
New Orleans, LA has a cost of living index of 108, 1.1x Ponchatoula.
Baton Rouge, LA has a cost of living index of 100, 1.1x Ponchatoula.
Metairie, LA has a cost of living index of 104, 1.1x Ponchatoula.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Ponchatoula |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA | 371,853 | 108 | 1.1x |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 222,771 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Metairie, LA | 139,729 | 104 | 1.1x |
| Kenner, LA | 64,904 | 101 | 1.1x |
| Marrero, LA | 32,540 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Chalmette, LA | 22,616 | 97 | 1.0x |
| Hammond, LA | 21,539 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Harvey, LA | 20,915 | 98 | 1.0x |
| Baker, LA | 12,253 | 91 | 1.0x |
| Bogalusa, LA | 10,468 | 87 | 0.9x |
