Louisiana landscape illustration
Rank #37 of 50

LouisianaMoney Index August 2026

"Cajun rhythm, careful math."

The Frugal Powerhouse South · LA Score 41

Louisiana Quirk

Louisiana's cheap, hurricane risk shapes how residents save and invest — small policy choices compound into big lifestyle differences.

Louisiana — Money Index — Key Facts

  • Louisiana Quirk. Louisiana's cheap, hurricane risk shapes how residents save and invest — small policy choices compound into big lifestyle differences.
  • Business Climate: 5/10. Louisiana scores 5/10 on business climate with 4/10 for remote work — moderate runway for entrepreneurs.
  • Retirement: 6/10. Louisiana is workable for retirees (6/10) but not at the top of the pack.
  • Banking Access: 5/10. Louisiana scores 5/10 on banking access — fine for everyday accounts, worth shopping online HYSA rates to beat local offers.
  • South Money Profile. Louisiana sits in the South — and its personality is "The Frugal Powerhouse". Paychecks stretch further here — savings rates beat the national average effortlessly.
  • Inflation Resilience: 6/10. Louisiana scores 6/10 on inflation resilience — middle of the national pack.
  • Tax Friendliness: 5/10. Louisiana's state income-tax burden (5/10) is middle-of-the-pack — not a haven, not punitive.
  • Affordability: 8/10. Louisiana is one of the cheapest states in the union (8/10). A modest income here lives like a high one on the coasts.
  • Remote Work: 4/10. Louisiana scores only 4/10 for remote work — infrastructure and tax math favor in-office economies here.
  • The Short Answer. Louisiana is a balanced state for money — cheap, hurricane risk.
See the full US state money rankingsMake More Money!
Tax friendliness
5/10
10 = no income tax
Affordability
8/10
10 = cheapest
Retirement
6/10
Tax + lifestyle
Business
5/10
Climate score
The short answer

Louisiana is a balanced state for money — cheap, hurricane risk.

On our 1-10 money scorecards, Louisiana ranks 5/10 on tax friendliness, 8/10 on cost of living, and 6/10 on retirement — placing it #37 of 50 states overall.

The full picture

How Louisiana scores across the board

Seven dimensions of household finance, scored 1-10. Higher is better in every category.

Tax friendliness5/10
Cost of living8/10
Retirement6/10
Business climate5/10
Banking competitiveness5/10
Inflation resilience6/10
Remote-work suitability4/10
Banking
5/10
Account access & rates
Inflation
6/10
Resilience score
Remote work
4/10
Laptop-class friendly
Overall
41
Rank #37/50
The vibe

Money personality: The Frugal Powerhouse

Paychecks stretch further here — savings rates beat the national average effortlessly.

Did you know

Four Louisiana money truths

State income tax: 5/10

Louisiana's state income tax burden (5/10) is middle-of-the-pack — not a tax haven, not punitive.

Cost of living: 8/10

Cost of living scores 8/10 — Louisiana is one of the cheapest states in the union, so a modest income lives like a high one elsewhere.

Retirement: 6/10

Retirement friendliness 6/10 — workable for retirees but not at the top of the pack.

Business climate: 5/10

Business climate 5/10 with 4/10 for remote work — moderate runway for entrepreneurs and laptop-class earners.

Surprising fact

"Louisiana's cheap, hurricane risk shapes how residents save and invest — small policy choices compound into big lifestyle differences."

Play the game

Money lessons from Louisiana

  1. 1

    Cheap COL = automatic 20% savings rate if you keep coastal-city habits

  2. 2

    State tax policy is part of your investment strategy — not just where you live

See the full US state money rankings
Real questions

Louisiana money FAQ

Is Louisiana a good state for keeping your money?+

Louisiana scores 41 on our composite money index, with a the frugal powerhouse profile. Louisiana is a balanced state for money — cheap, hurricane risk.

What is the state income tax in Louisiana?+

Louisiana's state income tax burden is roughly in the middle of the pack. On our 1-10 tax-friendliness scale (10 = no income tax), Louisiana scores 5.

Is Louisiana good for retirement?+

Louisiana scores 6/10 on retirement friendliness, factoring in tax treatment of Social Security and pension income, healthcare costs, and overall affordability for fixed-income households.

Is Louisiana good for business owners and remote workers?+

Louisiana scores 5/10 on business climate and 4/10 on remote-work suitability — covering tax incentives, talent pools, infrastructure and cost of doing business.

How affordable is Louisiana?+

Louisiana scores 8/10 on cost of living (10 = cheapest). Combined with 6/10 inflation resilience, that shapes how far paychecks stretch here.

What money personality fits Louisiana?+

The Frugal Powerhouse — Paychecks stretch further here — savings rates beat the national average effortlessly.

What's surprising about money in Louisiana?+

Louisiana's cheap, hurricane risk shapes how residents save and invest — small policy choices compound into big lifestyle differences.

Nearby

Other South states