Carencro, LA vs Ruston, LA

Carencro, LA and Ruston, LA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.5% difference in their overall index. Carencro scores 76 while Ruston scores 73 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Carencro is $924/month compared to $819/month in Ruston — a 13% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Ruston has cheaper rent, Carencro actually has lower median home values ($211,200 vs $226,700).

Median household income in Carencro is $70,217 compared to $32,765 in Ruston (+114.3%). While Carencro is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Carencro spend roughly 15.8% of their income on rent, less than the 30% in Ruston.