Monroe, LA vs Houma, LA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Houma, LA is 1.8% more expensive than Monroe, LA (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Monroe works out to about $76,400 in Houma, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 19.8% more in Houma. Goods are 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,302 a month in Houma and $1,180 in Monroe, $1,464 a year more in Houma (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $181,000 in Houma and $167,000 in Monroe.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Houma was 6.0% more expensive than Monroe.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 19.8% higher in Houma than in Monroe
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Monroe, LA
- Houma, LA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Monroe, LA | Houma, LA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 83.6 | 85.1 |
| Goods | 93.7 | 93.7 |
| Housing (rents) | 42.8 | 51.3 |
| Utilities | 72.2 | 71.3 |
| Other services | 95.7 | 95.7 |
| Category | Monroe | Houma | Houma vs Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 83.6 | 85.1 | +1.8% |
| Goods | 93.7 | 93.7 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 42.8 | 51.3 | +19.8% |
| Utilities | 72.2 | 71.3 | −1.3% |
| Other services | 95.7 | 95.7 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,180 | $1,302 | +10.3% |
| Typical home value | $167,000 | $181,000 | +8.4% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Monroe | $75,000 | $76,400 | +1.8% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Monroe and Houma has narrowed since 2008: 4.2 points then, 1.5 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Monroe, LA
- Houma, LA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Monroe, LA | Houma, LA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 86.3 | 90.5 |
| 2009 | 84.2 | 89.2 |
| 2010 | 88.6 | 94.5 |
| 2011 | 87.6 | 94.3 |
| 2012 | 86.4 | 95.2 |
| 2013 | 86.8 | 95.8 |
| 2014 | 87.9 | 93.9 |
| 2015 | 85.1 | 94.3 |
| 2016 | 86.1 | 95.1 |
| 2017 | 86.8 | 94.0 |
| 2018 | 86.2 | 89.8 |
| 2019 | 85.8 | 90.9 |
| 2020 | 83.4 | 92.2 |
| 2021 | 86.5 | 88.4 |
| 2022 | 86.6 | 88.4 |
| 2023 | 83.6 | 88.9 |
| 2024 | 83.6 | 85.1 |
Goods
- Monroe, LA
- Houma, LA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Monroe, LA | Houma, LA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 96.4 | 97.1 |
| 2009 | 93.9 | 95.0 |
| 2010 | 96.7 | 96.9 |
| 2011 | 96.1 | 96.9 |
| 2012 | 95.4 | 97.2 |
| 2013 | 96.1 | 97.3 |
| 2014 | 96.2 | 98.0 |
| 2015 | 95.2 | 96.9 |
| 2016 | 95.9 | 97.3 |
| 2017 | 95.7 | 97.1 |
| 2018 | 93.6 | 93.6 |
| 2019 | 95.1 | 95.1 |
| 2020 | 94.6 | 94.6 |
| 2021 | 95.2 | 95.2 |
| 2022 | 94.0 | 94.0 |
| 2023 | 93.0 | 93.0 |
| 2024 | 93.7 | 93.7 |
Housing (rents)
- Monroe, LA
- Houma, LA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Monroe, LA | Houma, LA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 45.0 | 60.1 |
| 2009 | 47.8 | 58.8 |
| 2010 | 55.5 | 78.0 |
| 2011 | 51.6 | 73.8 |
| 2012 | 47.9 | 78.2 |
| 2013 | 49.0 | 82.8 |
| 2014 | 50.5 | 71.6 |
| 2015 | 46.5 | 75.2 |
| 2016 | 49.2 | 73.9 |
| 2017 | 50.2 | 72.9 |
| 2018 | 51.2 | 64.8 |
| 2019 | 47.1 | 68.6 |
| 2020 | 41.1 | 72.1 |
| 2021 | 47.7 | 53.1 |
| 2022 | 49.8 | 57.7 |
| 2023 | 43.9 | 67.5 |
| 2024 | 42.8 | 51.3 |
Utilities
- Monroe, LA
- Houma, LA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Monroe, LA | Houma, LA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 87.6 | 89.3 |
| 2009 | 73.2 | 73.6 |
| 2010 | 80.0 | 81.0 |
| 2011 | 78.9 | 78.9 |
| 2012 | 75.5 | 74.5 |
| 2013 | 80.3 | 79.6 |
| 2014 | 81.0 | 80.0 |
| 2015 | 79.6 | 78.0 |
| 2016 | 79.6 | 77.1 |
| 2017 | 78.4 | 76.3 |
| 2018 | 77.2 | 76.1 |
| 2019 | 78.3 | 76.9 |
| 2020 | 77.3 | 76.0 |
| 2021 | 81.0 | 80.9 |
| 2022 | 84.7 | 84.6 |
| 2023 | 77.0 | 75.6 |
| 2024 | 72.2 | 71.3 |
Other services
- Monroe, LA
- Houma, LA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Monroe, LA | Houma, LA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.6 | 98.5 |
| 2009 | 96.6 | 98.3 |
| 2010 | 98.2 | 99.9 |
| 2011 | 99.5 | 101.3 |
| 2012 | 100.4 | 101.5 |
| 2013 | 100.1 | 100.8 |
| 2014 | 100.0 | 100.6 |
| 2015 | 100.3 | 101.4 |
| 2016 | 100.9 | 102.8 |
| 2017 | 99.1 | 100.9 |
| 2018 | 98.2 | 98.2 |
| 2019 | 97.2 | 97.2 |
| 2020 | 99.5 | 99.5 |
| 2021 | 98.8 | 98.8 |
| 2022 | 97.3 | 97.3 |
| 2023 | 95.6 | 95.6 |
| 2024 | 95.7 | 95.7 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,302 in Houma vs $1,180 in Monroe
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Monroe, LA
- Houma, LA
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Monroe, LA | Houma, LA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | – | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | – | – | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | – | – | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | – | – | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | – | – | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | – | – | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | – | – | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | – | – | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | – | – | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | – | – | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | – | – | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | – | – | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | – | – | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | – | – | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | – | – | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | – | – | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | – | – | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | – | – | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | – | – | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | – | – | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | – | – | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | – | – | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | – | – | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | – | – | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | – | – | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | – | – | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $865 | $1,089 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $890 | $1,110 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $897 | $1,186 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $903 | $1,191 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $922 | $1,213 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $920 | $1,181 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $909 | $1,142 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $934 | $1,173 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $965 | $1,170 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $967 | $1,185 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $972 | $1,183 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $977 | $1,194 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,016 | $1,205 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,092 | $1,231 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,075 | $1,225 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,102 | $1,246 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,169 | $1,259 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,180 | $1,302 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $181,000 in Houma vs $167,000 in Monroe
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Monroe, LA
- Houma, LA
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Monroe, LA | Houma, LA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $129K | $198K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $131K | $200K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $131K | $203K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $132K | $207K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $135K | $205K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $137K | $204K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $137K | $202K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $137K | $204K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $136K | $202K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $135K | $197K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $136K | $196K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $136K | $194K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $136K | $194K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $138K | $193K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $137K | $192K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $137K | $192K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $138K | $193K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $139K | $197K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $139K | $202K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $139K | $207K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $141K | $210K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $140K | $212K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $142K | $217K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $146K | $217K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $146K | $213K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $149K | $211K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $149K | $210K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $151K | $210K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $159K | $209K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $164K | $207K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $165K | $200K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $165K | $193K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $161K | $192K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $164K | $195K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $162K | $196K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $162K | $198K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $162K | $197K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $166K | $200K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $167K | $194K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $167K | $192K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $167K | $193K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $163K | $189K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $162K | $186K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $162K | $183K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $164K | $183K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $165K | $182K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $167K | $181K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.