Cost of Living in Hammond, LA
Hammond, LA — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Hammond, LA to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Hammond, LA?
With a price level of 84.5 (U.S. average = 100), Hammond, LA is one of the most affordable places in the country. In detail, housing costs are 52% below average; everyday goods are 6% below average; utilities are 29% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 4% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Hammond, LA vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 84.5 | −15.5% |
| Housing | 48.2 | −51.8% |
| Goods | 93.7 | −6.3% |
| Utilities | 71.0 | −29.0% |
| Other services | 95.7 | −4.3% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Hammond, LA
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $831 | $33,240/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $848 | $33,920/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,099 | $43,960/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,372 | $54,880/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,455 | $58,200/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Hammond, LA
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Hammond, LA | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $33,800 | $28,711 |
| $60,000 | $50,700 | $41,783 |
| $80,000 | $67,600 | $54,745 |
| $100,000 | $84,500 | $66,127 |
| $150,000 | $126,700 | $94,451 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Louisiana 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Hammond, LA's median wage of $38,480 takes home about $2,694 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $848, which is 31% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $1,846 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Hammond, LA
- Federal income tax$2,438
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,386
- Medicare (1.45%)$558
- Louisiana income tax$768
- Take-home pay$32,331
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.00% state
Pay and living costs in Louisiana cities
Half of Louisiana’s 1,934,900 workers earn less than $45,520 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $30,350–$66,340 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Houma, LA stretches a paycheck furthest, while Hammond, LA is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA | $47,290 | 92.6 | $1,105 | 34% | $2,157 | $42,275 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $48,710 | 90.8 | $1,048 | 31% | $2,306 | $44,331 |
| Lafayette, LA | $41,780 | 87.2 | $847 | 29% | $2,060 | $39,999 |
| Shreveport, LA | $44,820 | 84.8 | $982 | 32% | $2,121 | $43,926 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $45,700 | 85.9 | $894 | 28% | $2,266 | $44,163 |
| Slidell, LA | $43,710 | 92.7 | $1,130 | 37% | $1,901 | $39,229 |
| Monroe, LA | $38,150 | 83.6 | $772 | 29% | $1,901 | $38,369 |
| Houma, LA | $45,610 | 85.1 | $904 | 29% | $2,250 | $44,470 |
| Alexandria, LA | $40,600 | 85.7 | $780 | 28% | $2,051 | $39,645 |
| Hammond, LA | $38,480 | 84.5 | $848 | 31% | $1,846 | $38,279 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Hammond, LA vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hammond, LA | 84.5 | $848 | $38,480 | 47,820 |
| Johnstown, PA | 85.9 | $846 | $44,110 | 47,810 |
| Farmington, NM | 87.7 | $885 | $45,820 | 47,670 |
| Ithaca, NY | 103.3 | $1,466 | $58,130 | 47,980 |
| Lewiston, ME | 94.7 | $1,218 | $49,540 | 47,660 |
| Morristown, TN | 86.4 | $887 | $44,280 | 47,290 |
| Albany, OR | 102.1 | $1,236 | $49,700 | 47,260 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Hammond, LA expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Hammond, LA metro area are 84.5% of the U.S. average, with housing at 48.2%. It is the #382 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Hammond, LA?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $50,676 in Hammond, LA (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $38,480.
Can you afford Hammond, LA on the median wage?
A single worker on the $38,480 median wage takes home about $2,694 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $848 would take 31% of that.
How much is rent in Hammond, LA?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Hammond, LA are $831 for a studio, $848 for one bedroom, $1,099 for two bedrooms and $1,372 for three bedrooms, including utilities.