States › Louisiana › Ponchatoula

Is Ponchatoula, LA expensive to live in?

CheapRent takes 17 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$80254% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$55,177about $4,598/month · 37% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$200,30040% lower than U.S. average

Rent here is among the lowest 10% of all U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.6 years of household income. Commutes are long, about 33.3 minutes each way. Most homes (76%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $32,080 a year. That is $15 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Louisiana cities?

Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Louisiana. It is number 8 of 102 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Ponchatoula
$802
Reserve
$1,782
Old Jefferson
$2,197
Fort Polk South
$1,030
Meraux
$1,110
Eden Isle
$1,397
St. Rose
$901

How much do households earn in Ponchatoula?

Under $25k
28.5%
$25k–50k
23.2%
$50k–100k
23.2%
$100k–150k
13.9%
$150k+
8.1%

Share of households by yearly income. 22.0% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Ponchatoula

SizePonchatoulaU.S. average
1 bedroom$401$1,324
2 bedrooms$528$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,270$1,698

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Ponchatoula overall?

Everyday prices in Louisiana overall are 12% below the U.S. average (index 88.2, U.S. = 100).

Housing
63
Goods (food, clothes…)
94
Utilities
71
Other services
96
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Ponchatoula, so the Louisiana figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Ponchatoula

🏛️ Property tax$828a year · 0.41% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$167a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Ponchatoula

Commute to work33.3 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree23.9%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home76%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line14.3%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment2.3%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Ponchatoula?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $588 a month less.

Renting
$802
Owning
$1,390

Owning assumes a typical $200,300 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $20,030 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Ponchatoula, LA?

Renting in Ponchatoula costs a median of about $802 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Louisiana median is $1,165.

How much do I need to make to live in Ponchatoula?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $32,080 a year, or $15 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Ponchatoula cheap or expensive?

Ponchatoula is rated Cheap: rent takes 17.4% of the typical household income of $55,177. It ranks 8th cheapest of 102 Louisiana cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Ponchatoula?

The median homeowner in Ponchatoula pays $828 a year in property taxes, about 0.41% of the median home value.

Is Ponchatoula more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Louisiana are 12% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Ponchatoula?

The median home value in Ponchatoula is $200,300, about 3.6 times the typical yearly household income.

7,808 people live in Ponchatoula. Numbers are typical (middle) values.