Metairie, LA Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Metairie, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Metairie →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Roughly 140,046 people call Metairie, Louisiana home. Household income runs $72,070 at the median, roughly in line with what we see across the broader set of cities (+0%).
Housing costs are a defining factor for anyone relocating to Metairie. The median home value sits at $289,800 (below the multi-city median at -11%), while renters pay a median of $1,120 per month. Buyers should weigh current mortgage rates and local property taxes against these figures before committing.
Home prices in Metairie run about 4.0× median household income — a middle-of-the-road ratio, neither a bargain nor a stretch by our tracked standards. Prices in the area have gained 2.27% year over year, a moderate pace that suggests a stable market around Metairie. Metairie carries a Relatively High hazard rating from FEMA — elevated risk that's typically reflected in higher insurance premiums.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,120/mo in Metairie would take 18.6% of your income.
$682/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($289,800) would take 25.8% of your income toward principal & interest.
$135/mo under the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Metairie
Median home value is $289,800 and median gross rent is $1,120/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Jefferson rose 2.27% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,331/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Metairie's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Moving to Metairie
Planning a move to Metairie? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Metairie, LA?
- Metairie's key cost-of-living figures: $289,800 median home value, $1,120 median monthly rent, and $72,070 median household income, per the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Metairie?
- Metairie's median rent of $1,120/month works out to roughly $44,800 in annual income needed, if you're budgeting the standard 30% of gross pay toward rent. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Metairie.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Metairie?
- Metairie's median rent of $1,120/month translates to about $44,800 a year needed to rent comfortably, versus roughly $66,305 a year for principal and interest on the $289,800 median home (20% down, 30-year fixed, today's rates). How long you'll stay is usually the deciding factor.
See the full salary breakdown for Metairie →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Metairie's.