CostIndexUSA

Medford, OR vs Monroe, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

OR
Medford
101.4
overall index
$1,700/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Monroe
83.6
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

Monroe is significantly cheaper than Medford — 17.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Medford, you would need $66,000 in Monroe. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−56.2%
Medford
97.7
Monroe
42.8
🛒 Groceries−11.0%
Medford
105.3
Monroe
93.7
🚗 Transportation−4.6%
Medford
105.3
Monroe
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−4.6%
Medford
95.3
Monroe
90.9
⚡ Utilities−29.4%
Medford
102.3
Monroe
72.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Monroe, LA
$66,000
$14,000 less needed in Monroe

Formula: salary × (83.6 ÷ 101.4) = salary × 0.8245. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Medford, OR

Median Home Price
$425,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Housing Index
97.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
20.8×

Monroe, LA

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

Medford has 56.2% lower housing costs compared to Monroe.

Income & Job Market

Medford, OR

Median Household Income
$71,700
Per Capita Income
$40,900
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
85,824
Top Industries
HealthcareAgricultureRetailManufacturingTourism

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).

Medford, OR
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

Monroe, LA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Medford vs other cities

Medford, OR
vs
Bend, OR
Index: 101.4Index: 103.6
Medford, OR
vs
Corvallis, OR
Index: 101.4Index: 104
Medford, OR
vs
Eugene, OR
Index: 101.4Index: 101.6
Medford, OR
vs
Merced, CA
Index: 101.4Index: 98.3
Medford, OR
vs
Santa Fe, NM
Index: 101.4Index: 98.8

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.