Louisiana vs Tennessee: cost of living compared
Statewide price levels and incomes from BEA (2024); gas prices from EIA (weekly).
Is it cheaper to live in Louisiana or Tennessee?
- Overall, Tennessee is 4.2% more expensive than Louisiana (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Louisiana works out to about $78,100 in Tennessee, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 25.3% more in Tennessee. Goods are 2.7% higher and other services 0.6% lower.
- After adjusting for local prices, personal income per person is $58,582 in Tennessee and $56,789 in Louisiana (3.2% higher in Tennessee; BEA, 2024, in 2017 dollars).
- Inside each state, metro price levels run from 85.5 in Jackson, TN to 96.3 in Nashville, TN (Tennessee) and from 83.6 in Monroe, LA to 92.7 in Slidell, LA (Louisiana), US = 100.
- The gap has widened since 2019, when Tennessee was 0.1% more expensive than Louisiana.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities and real personal income by state. Statewide averages mix cities and rural areas; taxes are not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both states against the US average (100).
Housing drives the gap: 25.3% higher in Tennessee than in Louisiana
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Louisiana
- Tennessee
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Louisiana | Tennessee | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 88.2 | 91.9 |
| Goods | 93.7 | 96.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 63.1 | 79.1 |
| Utilities | 71.5 | 72.1 |
| Other services | 95.7 | 95.1 |
| Category | Louisiana | Tennessee | Tennessee vs Louisiana |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 88.2 | 91.9 | +4.2% |
| Goods | 93.7 | 96.2 | +2.7% |
| Housing (rents) | 63.1 | 79.1 | +25.3% |
| Utilities | 71.5 | 72.1 | +0.9% |
| Other services | 95.7 | 95.1 | −0.6% |
| Income per person, adjusted for prices | $56,789 | $58,582 | +3.2% |
| Regular gas, week of October 19, 2026* | $3.78 | $4.14 | +9.5% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Louisiana | $75,000 | $78,100 | +4.2% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Income: BEA real personal income per person, 2017 dollars. Gas: EIA weekly retail prices. *Gulf Coast region average (EIA has no separate Louisiana figure). *Midwest region average (EIA has no separate Tennessee figure).
Cheapest and most expensive places in each state
Louisiana
- Monroe, LA 83.6
- Hammond, LA 84.5
- Shreveport, LA 84.8
- Houma, LA 85.1
- Alexandria, LA 85.7
- Lake Charles, LA 85.9
- Lafayette, LA 87.2
- Baton Rouge, LA 90.8
- New Orleans, LA 92.6
- Slidell, LA 92.7
Tennessee
- Jackson, TN 85.5
- Morristown, TN 86.4
- Kingsport, TN 86.4
- Johnson City, TN 87.9
- Cleveland, TN 88.1
- Clarksville, TN 90.9
- Chattanooga, TN 91.5
- Memphis, TN 92.2
- Knoxville, TN 92.6
- Nashville, TN 96.3
Metro areas ordered from cheapest to most expensive. BEA, 2024, US = 100.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Louisiana and Tennessee has widened since 2008: 0.2 points then, 3.7 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Louisiana
- Tennessee
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Louisiana | Tennessee | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 91.5 | 91.7 |
| 2009 | 90.2 | 90.5 |
| 2010 | 92.2 | 92.4 |
| 2011 | 92.7 | 92.9 |
| 2012 | 92.9 | 93.4 |
| 2013 | 92.9 | 93.0 |
| 2014 | 93.4 | 92.8 |
| 2015 | 92.8 | 92.8 |
| 2016 | 93.6 | 93.8 |
| 2017 | 92.4 | 93.0 |
| 2018 | 90.8 | 89.6 |
| 2019 | 91.2 | 91.3 |
| 2020 | 91.1 | 90.5 |
| 2021 | 91.4 | 90.6 |
| 2022 | 90.5 | 91.8 |
| 2023 | 88.7 | 92.1 |
| 2024 | 88.2 | 91.9 |
Goods
- Louisiana
- Tennessee
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Louisiana | Tennessee | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 96.4 | 96.5 |
| 2009 | 94.0 | 94.0 |
| 2010 | 96.8 | 96.8 |
| 2011 | 96.2 | 96.1 |
| 2012 | 95.6 | 95.3 |
| 2013 | 96.2 | 96.1 |
| 2014 | 96.4 | 96.1 |
| 2015 | 95.4 | 95.1 |
| 2016 | 96.1 | 95.9 |
| 2017 | 95.8 | 95.6 |
| 2018 | 93.6 | 92.3 |
| 2019 | 95.1 | 94.5 |
| 2020 | 94.6 | 94.3 |
| 2021 | 95.2 | 93.9 |
| 2022 | 94.0 | 94.5 |
| 2023 | 93.0 | 94.3 |
| 2024 | 93.7 | 96.2 |
Housing (rents)
- Louisiana
- Tennessee
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Louisiana | Tennessee | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 67.7 | 72.5 |
| 2009 | 71.0 | 73.2 |
| 2010 | 71.5 | 73.4 |
| 2011 | 72.0 | 73.2 |
| 2012 | 73.1 | 74.7 |
| 2013 | 72.2 | 73.5 |
| 2014 | 73.1 | 71.9 |
| 2015 | 71.5 | 72.8 |
| 2016 | 72.9 | 74.6 |
| 2017 | 71.0 | 75.1 |
| 2018 | 69.2 | 73.8 |
| 2019 | 70.8 | 76.0 |
| 2020 | 68.0 | 75.8 |
| 2021 | 66.8 | 76.3 |
| 2022 | 66.9 | 76.8 |
| 2023 | 65.1 | 77.9 |
| 2024 | 63.1 | 79.1 |
Utilities
- Louisiana
- Tennessee
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Louisiana | Tennessee | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 87.8 | 79.3 |
| 2009 | 73.1 | 79.7 |
| 2010 | 80.1 | 80.2 |
| 2011 | 78.4 | 83.3 |
| 2012 | 75.0 | 84.2 |
| 2013 | 80.0 | 82.0 |
| 2014 | 80.7 | 84.2 |
| 2015 | 79.1 | 83.8 |
| 2016 | 78.6 | 83.4 |
| 2017 | 77.8 | 82.1 |
| 2018 | 76.5 | 78.0 |
| 2019 | 77.4 | 76.3 |
| 2020 | 76.8 | 74.0 |
| 2021 | 80.7 | 76.0 |
| 2022 | 84.3 | 77.3 |
| 2023 | 76.7 | 76.4 |
| 2024 | 71.5 | 72.1 |
Other services
- Louisiana
- Tennessee
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Louisiana | Tennessee | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.7 | 97.4 |
| 2009 | 96.8 | 96.3 |
| 2010 | 98.4 | 98.3 |
| 2011 | 99.7 | 99.7 |
| 2012 | 100.5 | 100.7 |
| 2013 | 100.1 | 99.9 |
| 2014 | 100.1 | 99.8 |
| 2015 | 100.4 | 100.1 |
| 2016 | 101.1 | 100.8 |
| 2017 | 99.2 | 98.9 |
| 2018 | 98.2 | 94.5 |
| 2019 | 97.2 | 95.9 |
| 2020 | 99.5 | 95.1 |
| 2021 | 98.8 | 94.5 |
| 2022 | 97.3 | 96.6 |
| 2023 | 95.6 | 97.1 |
| 2024 | 95.7 | 95.1 |
What incomes buy in each state
Income per person after adjusting for prices: $58,582 in Tennessee, $56,789 in Louisiana
Real personal income per person, constant 2017 dollars (adjusted for each state's price level and for inflation).
- Louisiana
- Tennessee
- United States
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, real personal income by state (SARPI), 2008–2024.
Show the numbers
| Louisiana | Tennessee | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | $47,032 | $42,784 | $45,816 |
| 2009 | $45,953 | $42,836 | $44,204 |
| 2010 | $45,679 | $42,895 | $44,808 |
| 2011 | $45,344 | $43,790 | $45,957 |
| 2012 | $46,358 | $44,317 | $46,796 |
| 2013 | $46,119 | $43,952 | $46,358 |
| 2014 | $46,949 | $44,696 | $47,661 |
| 2015 | $47,113 | $46,517 | $49,396 |
| 2016 | $45,897 | $46,670 | $49,828 |
| 2017 | $47,192 | $47,841 | $51,006 |
| 2018 | $49,191 | $50,876 | $52,242 |
| 2019 | $49,920 | $51,865 | $53,683 |
| 2020 | $52,747 | $55,023 | $56,514 |
| 2021 | $55,469 | $58,589 | $59,365 |
| 2022 | $52,781 | $55,524 | $57,104 |
| 2023 | $55,235 | $57,242 | $58,088 |
| 2024 | $56,789 | $58,582 | $59,195 |
More
- Cost of living in Louisiana
- Cost of living in Tennessee
- Reverse: moving from Tennessee to Louisiana
- All states ranked
Related state comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State income, sales and property taxes differ a lot between states and are not included.
- Where you live inside the state. Statewide figures average cities and rural areas; the metro lists above show the spread.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider if housing is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels and incomes are for 2024; gas prices are weekly.