CostIndexUSA

Columbia, MO vs Monroe, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

MO
Columbia
89.4
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Monroe
83.6
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

Monroe is moderately cheaper than Columbia — 6.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Columbia, you would need $74,800 in Monroe. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing−38.2%
Columbia
69.2
Monroe
42.8
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Columbia
94.2
Monroe
93.7
🚗 Transportation+2.9%
Columbia
97.7
Monroe
100.5
🏥 Healthcare+2.8%
Columbia
88.4
Monroe
90.9
⚡ Utilities−16.0%
Columbia
86
Monroe
72.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Columbia to see what you'd need to earn in Monroe to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
→
Equivalent salary in Monroe, LA
$74,800
$5,200 less needed in Monroe

Formula: salary × (83.6 ÷ 89.4) = salary × 0.9351. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Columbia, MO

Median Home Price
$308,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,350
Housing Index
69.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.0×

Monroe, LA

Median Home Price
$157,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
42.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.9×

Columbia has 38.2% lower housing costs compared to Monroe.

Income & Job Market

Columbia, MO

Median Household Income
$69,400
Per Capita Income
$39,600
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
126,254
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareGovernmentTechnologyFinance

Monroe, LA

Median Household Income
$50,300
Per Capita Income
$28,700
Unemployment Rate
7.3%
Population
47,252
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingGovernmentRetail

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Columbia, MO
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

77% of income left after rent (median)

Monroe, LA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Columbia vs other cities

Columbia, MO
vs
Joplin, MO
Index: 89.4Index: 85.7
Columbia, MO
vs
Kansas City, MO
Index: 89.4Index: 92.5
Columbia, MO
vs
Springfield, MO
Index: 89.4Index: 88.6
Columbia, MO
vs
Fargo, ND
Index: 89.4Index: 90.9
Columbia, MO
vs
Allentown, PA
Index: 89.4Index: 100

Monroe vs other cities

Monroe, LA
vs
Baton Rouge, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 90.8
Monroe, LA
vs
Lafayette, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 87.2
Monroe, LA
vs
Lake Charles, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 85.9
Monroe, LA
vs
Charleston, WV
Index: 83.6Index: 88.7
Monroe, LA
vs
San Luis Obispo, CA
Index: 83.6Index: 108.6

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.