Moving to Louisiana in 2023? Complete Relocation Guide

That means the average cost of living in the state is lower than the United States average. This could be one of the key things you’ll have to consider if you’re moving to Louisiana.

Louisiana housing market

Buying a home can be a great idea if you’re moving to Louisiana. The state is known for its affordable homes and most of the state’s residents are homeowners.

• Louisiana’s median home cost is $143,600
• Over the last 10 years, homes in the state have appreciated by 18.4%
• Home appreciation in Louisiana is currently up by 3.0%
• More than 70% of Louisianans are homeowners
• About 2.7% of homes and apartments in Louisiana are open to rent
• Up to 29% of Louisiana’s population are renters

Median home rental cost in Louisiana

Renting a home could be a key part of your plans if you’re moving to Louisiana. Home affordability rate is high in the Pelican state, which means the cost of buying or renting a home or apartment is low.

Since you’re considering moving to Louisiana, here’s a breakdown of the average cost of renting a home in the state:

• The average cost of a studio apartment in Louisiana is $636
• The average cost of a 1-bedroom home or apartment in Louisiana is $723
• The average cost of a 2-bedroom home or apartment in Louisiana is $868
• The average cost of a 3-bedroom home or apartment in Louisiana is $1,130
• The average cost of a 4-bedroom home or apartment in Louisiana is $1,308

Over the past year, jobs in the Pelican state have grown by 0.9%. Presently, the state’s unemployment rate is 6.6%, which is slightly higher than the national average of 6.0%. If you’re moving to Louisiana, here’s a breakdown of the state’s job market:

Top Career Options in Louisiana

If you’re considering a career switch after moving to Louisiana, we’ve made a list of the top ten career options in the state. Check out the list below to figure out where you fit in.

Tip: When you’ve got a home to move in Louisiana, getting the best moving quote will be your goal. Request moving company quotes to save on moving cost.

Top Industries in Louisiana

The Pelican state’s economy is propelled by several large industries. Since you’re considering moving to Louisiana, you may be interested in investing or working in any of these industries. Check out the list of the largest industries in Louisiana below:

• Advanced manufacturing
• Aerospace
• Agribusiness
• Automotive
• Energy
• Entertainment
• Process industry
• Software development
• Water management

Largest companies in Louisiana

Louisiana is home to several large companies including CenturyLink and Acadia Healthcare. If you’re interested in working for some of the largest companies in the Pelican state after moving to Louisiana, we’ve made a list here to help you get started.

To make it easier for you to make a fair comparison before making up your mind about moving to Louisiana, here’s a simple stat of the state’s tax rates:

• Louisiana’s income tax is 2.00% to 6.00%
• Louisiana’s sales tax is 4.45% - 11.45%
• Property tax in Louisiana is 0.53% average effective rate
• Louisiana’s gas tax is 20 cents per gallon of regular diesel and gasoline

Check out a list of the best things to do in the state since you’re considering moving to Louisiana:

• Enjoy a tour of the stunning Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge

  The State House of Louisiana or the Old State Capitol Baton Rouge is a historic government building and a museum overlooking the Mississippi River. The 19th-century building has found a place in the National Register of Historic Places and educates Louisiana's rich history and the democratic process through exhibits, programming, and the arts.

• Take a walk around New Orleans’ French Quarter

  The French Quarter or Vieux Carré is the oldest neighborhood in New Orleans. One of the most visited attractions in New Orleans, there’s a reimagined French Market, modern boutiques, and artisan cocktails mixed with beloved antique stores and old restaurants. The district as a whole has been designated as a National Historic Landmark.

• Take a tour of the National WWII Museum

  The military history museum in New Orleans focuses on the US’ contribution to the victory of Allied Forces in World War II. Inspiring and educational, the Museum offers immersive exhibits, a 4D cinematic journey, soaring aircraft, personal histories, and more.

• Visit Mardi Gras

  Of the hundreds of Louisiana festivals, none tops Mardi Gras. Packed with spectacular parades, unbelievable costumes, music, dancing, food, and drink, Mardi Gras is undoubtedly the best in the state. Celebrations are concentrated for about two weeks before and through Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday

• Take a tour of the Melrose plantation

  Formerly Yucca Plantation, Melrose Plantation is a historic house museum in Natchitoches Parish. One of the largest plantations in the US, built by and for free blacks, it is now a National Historic Landmark. Melrose Plantation contains nine historic buildings including the African House, Yucca House, Weaving Cabin, Bindery, and the Big House.

• Go on a swamp tour

  Louisiana is packed with many swamps, perhaps the most in the US. The swamps and bayous are home to countless species of fish, birds, reptiles, and mammals that thrive in and around its fertile waters. Taking a swamp tour is the best way to experience the intricate network of Louisiana’s scenic swamps.

• Take a tour of the Laura Plantation

  A restored historic plantation on the west bank of the Mississippi River, Laura Plantation was originally built in 1804 by a French naval veteran of the American Revolution. The Creole-owned sugar plantation is now known for its extensive exhibitions on slavery and the South. There are several preserved original slave cabins.

• Spend a Day at the Beach in Louisiana

  A coastal state, Louisiana is home to some of the breathtaking and mesmerizing white sand beaches, often prettier than California and Florida.

  Here are 10 amazing Louisiana beaches.

  • North Beach
  • Cypremort Point Beach
  • Holly Beach
  • Fontainebleau State Park
  • Rutherford Beach
  • Grand Isle
  • Elmer’s Island Wildlife Refuge Beach
  • White Sands Lake Beach
  • Lake Claiborne State Park
  • Fourchon Beach

• Catch a glimpse of the Sci-Port Discovery Center

  The 92,000- square-foot Sci-Port Discovery Center is a science and entertainment center featuring hands-on exhibits, programs, and demonstrations. The center encourages all ages to explore the world of math, science, technology and features an IMAX Dome Theater and laser Space Dome Planetarium.

• See the USS Kidd and Veterans Memorial

  USS KIDD is a WWII Fletcher-class destroyer, and National Historic Landmark restored to 1945 configuration. The museum ship is now berthed on the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge and is the only surviving US destroyer still in her World War II configuration. The museum includes a P-40 aircraft, ship models, full-scale replica of the gun deck of Old Ironsides, WWI trench exhibit, and Louisiana Veterans Hall of Honor.

• Explore the Rosedown Plantation and Gardens

  The 8,000- square foot historic home and former plantation in the West Feliciana Parish community of St. Francisville is known for its extensive formal gardens surrounding the house. Built in 1835 by the slaveholders Daniel and Martha Turnbull, the plantation's landscape is a laboratory for the study and interpretation of the cultural traditions of slavery, the lifestyle of the gentry, and scientific experiments in agriculture and horticulture.

• Tour the St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church

  The historic church at Saint Martinville was added to the National Register in 1972. St. Martin DE Tours Catholic Church is the fourth oldest church in the state, built in 1836.

• Visit the DeQuincy Railroad Museum

  The railroad artifacts of a bygone era are acquired, preserved, and displayed at the DeQuincy Railroad Museum to heighten public awareness of the role of the railroad industry in the US. The museum at Kansas City Southern Depot is on the National Register of Historic Places.

• Experience the Festival International, Lafayette, LA

  The annual music and arts festival celebrates the French heritage of the region. The outdoor fest brings musicians, artists, and craftsmen from around the world and is held on the last full weekend in April. About 400,000 music lovers throng to be a part of the festival.

Tip: Often, you feel like calculating the moving cost before you connect with a moving company. To help you, we've got a free moving cost calculator.

10 Safest Cities in Louisiana

Moving to Louisiana most likely means living in the safest cities in the state. To make it easier for you to narrow down your house hunting, we’ve made a list of the ten safest cities in the state, if you’re moving to Louisiana: