Median one-bedroom rent across the cities we track is $854 in Louisiana versus $866 in Missouri. Overall, Louisiana runs roughly 1% cheaper on rent than Missouri, its main day-to-day cost driver.
Median household income across tracked cities is $49,944 in Louisiana and $55,279 in Missouri — about 10% higher in Missouri. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.
State Taxes
Sales Tax
5%
4.225%
+0.8 pp in Louisiana
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
4.70%
+1.7 pp in Missouri
Housing (median across tracked cities)
Median 1BR Rent
$854
$866
+1% in Missouri
Median Home Value
$224,500
$185,100
+18% in Louisiana
Income (median across tracked cities)
Median Household Income
$49,944
$55,279
+11% in Missouri
Climate (median across tracked cities)
Avg Annual Temperature
68.5°F
56.3°F
+12.2°F in Louisiana
Louisiana vs Missouri — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Louisiana or Missouri?
- Louisiana is cheaper on rent — its median one-bedroom of $854 runs about 1% below Missouri's $866, based on the cities we track in each state.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Louisiana than in Missouri?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, based on median rent across tracked cities, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Louisiana versus $35,000 in Missouri.
- Which has lower taxes, Louisiana or Missouri?
- Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax. Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.
Housing, income, and climate are medians across the 3/3 cities we track in Louisiana/Missouri — not population-weighted statewide figures. Taxes are exact state-level rates. Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year; NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010; Tax Foundation 2026.