State FMR profile · HUD FY2026

Fair Market Rents in Louisiana

The average 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent across Louisiana is $832/mo — 13% below the US average.

$832
Avg 1BR FMR
64
Counties
10
Metro areas

The verdict

Louisiana's 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent averages $1,007 — 14% below the US average, the 39th lowest of 51 states.

#39
most affordable of 51 states (2BR)
-14%
vs the US 2-bedroom average
$40,280
income to afford it (30% rule)
78%
gap, cheapest→priciest county

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents for 64 counties and 10 metro areas in LA. Verify with HUD →

What these rents mean for Louisiana

Across Louisiana's 64 counties and 10 metro areas, HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rents average $763 for a studio, $832 for a 1-bedroom, $1,007 for a 2-bedroom, $1,298 for a 3-bedroom, and $1,508 for a 4-bedroom. FMR is set at the county or metro FMR area level — not statewide — so the numbers above are the arithmetic average of every FMR area inside LA, weighted equally. Local housing authorities use each county's or metro's FMR (not the state average) to calibrate Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards, typically ranging from 90% to 110% of FMR.

Benchmarked against the rest of the country, Louisiana's average 1-bedroom FMR of $832 is 13% below the US average of $959. Inside the state, rents are not uniform — the cheapest 1-bedroom FMR is in Morehouse Parish at $636, while the most expensive is in St. Tammany Parish at $1,130, a spread of roughly 78% between the lowest- and highest-cost counties. That intra-state dispersion is why urban voucher recipients, families relocating for jobs, and landlords setting Section 8 rents all need to check the specific FMR area rather than rely on a statewide figure.

For affordability, the 30% rule implies a household income of $33,280 per year (about $2,773/month) to afford Louisiana's average 1-bedroom at $832. The ratio of FMR to local wages determines how many households are rent-burdened. Pair these rent figures with Louisiana's rent burden rankings and year-over-year rent growth pages to see which counties are tightening fastest and which remain comparatively affordable.

Where Louisiana sits among all 50 states + DC

Average 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. every US state

$1,007 Top 76% higher than 24% of 51 states

$900–$1,000: 11 states (22%). Below this entry. $1,000–$1,100: 7 states (14%). This entry sits in this band. $1,100–$1,200: 8 states (16%). Above this entry. $1,200–$1,300: 2 states (4%). Above this entry. $1,300–$1,400: 3 states (6%). Above this entry. $1,400–$1,500: 8 states (16%). Above this entry. $1,500–$1,600: 3 states (6%). Above this entry. $1,600–$1,700: 1 states (2%). Above this entry. $1,700–$1,800: 1 states (2%). Above this entry. $1,800–$1,900: 1 states (2%). Above this entry. $1,900–$2,000: 1 states (2%). Above this entry. $2,000–$2,100: 1 states (2%). Above this entry. $2,100–$2,200: 1 states (2%). Above this entry. $2,200–$2,300: 2 states (4%). Above this entry. $2,300–$2,400: 0 states (0%). Above this entry. $2,400–$2,500: 1 states (2%). Above this entry. LA $900 $2,500 every US state, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $0.1K-wide band; taller bars hold more states. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development — Fair Market Rents · FY2026

State Average vs National Average

Studio
$763
-15% vs US avg
1 BR
$832
-13% vs US avg
2 BR
$1,007
-14% vs US avg
3 BR
$1,298
-15% vs US avg
4 BR
$1,508
-14% vs US avg

Most expensive counties in Louisiana by 1-bedroom FMR

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent — the highest-cost 10 of 64 LA counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Inside LA, 1-bedroom FMR runs from $636 in Morehouse Parish to $1,130 in St. Tammany Parish.

Source HUD Fair Market Rents and U.S. Census Bureau ACS data As of FY2026

Cheapest Counties

Lowest FMR rental costs →

Most Expensive Counties

Highest FMR rental costs →

Rent Burden

% of income spent on rent →

Rent Growth

YoY rent trends by county →

Metro areas in Louisiana

Each metro FMR area applies one rent schedule across all its counties, ranked here by 1-bedroom FMR.

# Metro area Studio1 BR2 BR3 BR4 BR
1 Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA MSA $990$1,130$1,331$1,724$1,996
2 New Orleans-Metairie, LA HUD Metro FMR Area $964$1,113$1,331$1,701$1,996
3 Baton Rouge, LA HUD Metro FMR Area $1,032$1,064$1,204$1,511$1,943
4 Shreveport-Bossier City, LA MSA $870$982$1,111$1,458$1,552
5 Lake Charles, LA HUD Metro FMR Area $921$928$1,217$1,459$1,611
6 Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA MSA $760$904$1,102$1,330$1,459
7 Hammond, LA MSA $831$848$1,099$1,372$1,455
8 Alexandria, LA MSA $728$780$994$1,342$1,523
9 Acadia Parish, LA HUD Metro FMR Area $607$671$880$1,055$1,194
10 Morehouse Parish, LA HUD Metro FMR Area $631$636$834$1,143$1,172

Counties in Louisiana, ranked by rent (64)

All 64 counties with a published FY2026 Fair Market Rent, highest 1-bedroom first.

# County Studio1 BR2 BR3 BR4 BR
1 St. Tammany Parish $990$1,130$1,331$1,724$1,996
2 Jefferson Parish $964$1,113$1,331$1,701$1,996
3 Orleans Parish $964$1,113$1,331$1,701$1,996
4 Plaquemines Parish $964$1,113$1,331$1,701$1,996
5 St. Bernard Parish $964$1,113$1,331$1,701$1,996
6 St. Charles Parish $964$1,113$1,331$1,701$1,996
7 St. John the Baptist Parish $964$1,113$1,331$1,701$1,996
8 Ascension Parish $1,032$1,064$1,204$1,511$1,943
9 East Baton Rouge Parish $1,032$1,064$1,204$1,511$1,943
10 East Feliciana Parish $1,032$1,064$1,204$1,511$1,943
11 Livingston Parish $1,032$1,064$1,204$1,511$1,943
12 Pointe Coupee Parish $1,032$1,064$1,204$1,511$1,943
13 St. Helena Parish $1,032$1,064$1,204$1,511$1,943
14 West Baton Rouge Parish $1,032$1,064$1,204$1,511$1,943
15 West Feliciana Parish $1,032$1,064$1,204$1,511$1,943
16 Bossier Parish $870$982$1,111$1,458$1,552
17 Caddo Parish $870$982$1,111$1,458$1,552
18 De Soto Parish $870$982$1,111$1,458$1,552
19 Calcasieu Parish $921$928$1,217$1,459$1,611
20 Cameron Parish $921$928$1,217$1,459$1,611
21 Lafourche Parish $760$904$1,102$1,330$1,459
22 Terrebonne Parish $760$904$1,102$1,330$1,459
23 Lafayette Parish $779$898$1,019$1,301$1,581
24 St. Martin Parish $779$898$1,019$1,301$1,581
25 Tangipahoa Parish $831$848$1,099$1,372$1,455
26 Assumption Parish $801$806$967$1,345$1,556
27 Ouachita Parish $765$793$1,026$1,319$1,358
28 Union Parish $765$793$1,026$1,319$1,358
29 Vernon Parish $788$793$1,041$1,336$1,433
30 Iberville Parish $747$790$866$1,204$1,453
31 Grant Parish $728$780$994$1,342$1,523
32 Rapides Parish $728$780$994$1,342$1,523
33 Iberia Parish $679$764$905$1,193$1,473
34 Jackson Parish $601$761$834$1,160$1,225
35 Tensas Parish $601$761$834$1,160$1,249
36 Vermilion Parish $580$761$834$1,100$1,104
37 Washington Parish $727$761$834$1,160$1,388
38 Winn Parish $601$761$834$1,160$1,249
39 Richland Parish $754$759$944$1,132$1,344
40 Allen Parish $601$754$834$1,048$1,249
41 St. Mary Parish $717$722$947$1,244$1,512
42 Beauregard Parish $655$713$935$1,155$1,569
43 Bienville Parish $601$707$834$1,160$1,399
44 Claiborne Parish $601$706$834$1,000$1,249
45 Natchitoches Parish $634$705$925$1,146$1,373
46 St. James Parish $697$702$921$1,281$1,315
47 Franklin Parish $601$698$834$1,067$1,249
48 Lincoln Parish $649$695$881$1,156$1,440
49 Sabine Parish $681$686$884$1,065$1,241
50 Acadia Parish $607$671$880$1,055$1,194
51 Evangeline Parish $601$667$834$1,085$1,104
52 Jefferson Davis Parish $601$664$871$1,201$1,461
53 La Salle Parish $614$660$851$1,073$1,428
54 Avoyelles Parish $617$653$857$1,087$1,283
55 Webster Parish $600$651$854$1,130$1,131
56 Caldwell Parish $604$647$834$1,072$1,249
57 Catahoula Parish $601$647$834$1,139$1,249
58 Concordia Parish $601$647$834$1,139$1,249
59 East Carroll Parish $601$647$834$1,139$1,249
60 Red River Parish $601$647$834$1,073$1,251
61 Madison Parish $616$638$834$1,100$1,399
62 Morehouse Parish $631$636$834$1,143$1,172
63 St. Landry Parish $631$636$834$1,040$1,202
64 West Carroll Parish $601$636$834$1,088$1,138

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Louisiana? ▼
The average FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Louisiana is $832 per month. A 2-bedroom averages $1,007.
How does Louisiana rent compare to the national average? ▼
Louisiana rents are 13% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here averages $832 vs $959 nationally.
Where is the cheapest rent in Louisiana? ▼
The most affordable county is Morehouse Parish with a 1-bedroom FMR of $636. The most expensive is St. Tammany Parish at $1,130.
What income do I need to afford rent in Louisiana? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need at least $33,280/year ($2,773/month) to afford the average 1-bedroom FMR in Louisiana.

Explore Louisiana rent data

Rent burden → Rent growth → Cheapest counties → Most expensive counties → National rent-burden rankings → Affordability calculator →

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Related

Browse all → | Rankings →
Data sourced from HUD Fair Market Rents and U.S. Census Bureau ACS data. See our methodology for details. Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rent data (huduser.gov).