A+
14%
Overall NAT. AVG.
2%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
34%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Opelousas Louisiana National
Cost of living8691100
Goods & Services9896100
Groceries9595100
Health care8599100
Housing6681100
Transportation9496100
Utilities8984100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Opelousas, LA

The cost of living in Opelousas affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Opelousas is 86, which is 14% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

Is Opelousas Affordable?

Is Opelousas an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Opelousas is 33.4% lower than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 37.1% lower than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Opelousas has a median household income of $32,666, which is 41% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Opelousas?

Housing: Elevated demand for housing within coveted locales has the propensity to escalate both property values and rental rates, thereby serving as a primary catalyst for an augmented cost of living. Conversely, areas witnessing diminished housing demand, particularly within less desirable environs, often experience an inversely proportional effect, leading to price reductions and subsequently contributing to a more modest cost of living. In Opelousas, the housing index is 34.5% lower than the national average.

Utilities: Much like any other costs, utility expenses can exhibit considerable variations, influenced by factors such as climate, available energy sources, geographic location and state regulations. The costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can vary significantly depending on the city or state in question. In Opelousas, the utilities index stands at 10.7% lower than the national average.

Transportation: When public transportation options are limited or non-existent, residents frequently resort to vehicle ownership, which can significantly contribute to the overall cost of living. Monthly financial obligations encompass fuel, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or financing expenses. In Opelousas, the transportation index is 5.8% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Opelousas cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Opelousas is 5% lower than the Louisiana average
  • The cost of living in Opelousas is 14% lower than the national average
  • Opelousas housing is 34% lower than the national average
  • Louisiana general sales tax is 13% lower than the national average
  • Louisiana state income tax is 29% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Opelousas

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Compare Opelousas, LA Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$53,601$4,467$1,251$1,608
      Renters$17,027$1,419$397$511
      The affordability of the housing market in Opelousas, LA as well as the overall cost of living can be predicted by what percent of the monthly income is spent on housing related costs. This is konwn as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The overall rule of thumb is that no more than 28% of your gross income should be spent on the overall costs related to housing and no more than 36% of gross income on all expenses and debts. Among Opelousas homeowners, the median income is $53,601. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $1,251 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $17,027. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $397 for their rent related monthly costs.

      Louisiana Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Louisiana 4.45% 11.45%

      Louisiana Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Louisiana 1.85% 4.25%

      Goods & Services

      Item Opelousas National avg. Difference
      Haircut $26.20$24.268.0%
      Beauty Salon $42.83$45.566.0%
      Toothpaste $3.56$3.703.8%
      Shampoo $1.09$1.2815.1%
      Movie $10.94$12.139.8%
      Bowling $17.53$18.002.6%

      Groceries

      Item Opelousas National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.19$5.8411.2%
      Fried Chicken $1.42$1.579.9%
      Milk $4.51$4.673.4%
      Potatoes $5.01$4.931.5%
      Pizza $11.51$12.094.8%
      Beer $9.91$10.414.8%

      Health Care

      Item Opelousas National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $146.24$125.6816.4%
      Doctor $113.67$135.7816.3%
      Dentist $119.98$113.295.9%
      Ibuprofen $10.04$10.655.7%
      Lipitor $515.16$468.609.9%

      Housing

      Item Opelousas National avg. Difference
      Home Price $123,100.00$184,700.0033.4%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,473.88$2,346.6937.2%
      Apartment Rent $597.00$949.0037.1%

      Transportation

      Item Opelousas National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.31$3.464.5%
      Tire Balancing $81.71$59.9236.4%

      Utilities

      Item Opelousas National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $106.81$193.9944.9%
      Phone $186.90$192.252.8%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Branch, LA3557228.1%
      Arnaudville, LA1,6147920.5%
      Ville Platte, LA7,1178020.5%
      Chataignier, LA2498020.0%
      Port Barre, LA1,6198119.2%
      Opelousas, LA16,6878613.8%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Pendleton, OR16,685990.7%
      Mount Vernon, OH16,6848712.7%
      Tahlequah, OK16,6848613.6%
      North Myrtle Beach, SC16,68411211.6%
      Sylvan Lake, AB16,694n/a 
      Opelousas, LA16,6878613.8%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.