Cost of Living in Houma, LA
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Houma, LA to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Houma, LA?
With a price level of 85.1 (U.S. average = 100), Houma, LA is one of the most affordable places in the country. In detail, housing costs are 49% 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 Houma, LA vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 85.1 | −14.9% |
| Housing | 51.3 | −48.7% |
| Goods | 93.7 | −6.3% |
| Utilities | 71.3 | −28.7% |
| Other services | 95.7 | −4.3% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Houma, LA
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $760 | $30,400/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $904 | $36,160/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,102 | $44,080/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,330 | $53,200/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,459 | $58,360/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Houma, 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 Houma, LA | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $34,000 | $28,865 |
| $60,000 | $51,100 | $42,092 |
| $80,000 | $68,100 | $55,082 |
| $100,000 | $85,100 | $66,531 |
| $150,000 | $127,700 | $95,104 |
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 Houma, LA's median wage of $45,610 takes home about $3,154 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $904, which is 29% of take-home pay — within the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,250 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Houma, LA
- Federal income tax$3,293
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,828
- Medicare (1.45%)$661
- Louisiana income tax$982
- Take-home pay$37,846
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.
Houma, LA vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houma, LA | 85.1 | $904 | $45,610 | 83,440 |
| Waterloo, IA | 87.1 | $793 | $47,430 | 84,260 |
| La Crosse, WI | 91.8 | $866 | $48,260 | 84,380 |
| Jackson, TN | 85.5 | $880 | $44,790 | 84,530 |
| Bowling Green, KY | 90.2 | $937 | $45,040 | 82,160 |
| Hilton Head Island, SC | 98.0 | $1,623 | $43,850 | 81,920 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | 94.4 | $1,095 | $46,800 | 81,840 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Houma, LA expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA metro area are 85.1% of the U.S. average, with housing at 51.3%. It is the #379 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Houma, LA?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $51,062 in Houma, LA (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $45,610.
Can you afford Houma, LA on the median wage?
A single worker on the $45,610 median wage takes home about $3,154 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $904 would take 29% of that.
How much is rent in Houma, LA?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Houma, LA are $760 for a studio, $904 for one bedroom, $1,102 for two bedrooms and $1,330 for three bedrooms, including utilities.