Abbeville, LA vs Ruston, LA

Abbeville is moderately more affordable than Ruston, with a 13.2% lower cost of living index. Abbeville scores 63 compared to 73 for Ruston, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Ruston can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Abbeville is $800/month compared to $819/month in Ruston — a 2% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Abbeville is more affordable at $99,900 median vs $226,700.

Median household income in Abbeville is $34,977 compared to $32,765 in Ruston (+6.8%). Abbeville offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Abbeville spend roughly 27.4% of their income on rent, less than the 30% in Ruston.