What is the cost of living in Ruston, LA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Ruston has an overall cost of living index of 94, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Louisiana, Ruston has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Louisiana's index of 91.
The standard of living in Ruston ranks as #43 most affordable out of the 103 places we measured in Louisiana. By definition, that implies Ruston ranks as the #60 most expensive place in the Pelican State.
For more reading on life in Ruston, check out:
Ruston Cost Of Living Vs. Louisiana
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Ruston. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Ruston is 99.
The Groceries index in Ruston is 97.
The Health index in Ruston is 90.
The Housing index in Ruston is 101.
The Transportation index in Ruston is 103.
The Utilities index in Ruston is 95.
| Living Expense | Ruston | Louisiana | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 94 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 90 | 82 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 96 | 100 |
Ruston 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 Ruston Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Ruston, 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 Ruston is $225,351.
The Median Rent in Ruston is $816.
The Median Income in Ruston is $31,120.
The Home Value To Income in Ruston is 7.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Ruston is 0.31x.
Ruston, LA Costs By Category
Detailed Ruston Services costs vs. Louisiana
Detailed Ruston Groceries costs vs. Louisiana
Detailed Ruston Health costs vs. Louisiana
Detailed Ruston Transportation costs vs. Louisiana
Ruston SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Ruston
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Ruston. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Monroe, LA has a cost of living index of 90, 1.0x Ruston.
El Dorado, AR has a cost of living index of 83, 0.9x Ruston.
Jamestown, ND has a cost of living index of 94, 1.0x Ruston.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Ruston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe, LA | 47,004 | 90 | 1.0x |
| El Dorado, AR | 17,115 | 83 | 0.9x |
| Jamestown, ND | 15,787 | 94 | 1.0x |
| Claiborne, LA | 13,308 | 98 | 1.0x |
| West Monroe, LA | 12,729 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Minden, LA | 11,455 | 89 | 0.9x |
| Bastrop, LA | 9,232 | 82 | 0.9x |
| Grambling, LA | 5,287 | 94 | 1.0x |
