Skip to main content
LiveWhere us
New Orleans-Metairie, LA

Cost of living in St. James Parish, LA

Part of the New Orleans Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$2,753/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 19,797 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $741 27%
Federal tax $546 20%
Healthcare $480 17%
Transport $320 12%
Groceries $315 11%
Energy $186 7%
State tax $110 4%
Water $55 2%

Rent in St. James Parish

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$704
per month
1 bedroom
$741
per month
2 bedroom
$972
per month
3 bedroom
$1,362
per month
4 bedroom
$1,458
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in St. James Parish

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$64,536
per year
Individual earnings
$43,441
per year
Per capita
$35,832
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in St. James Parish

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$197,800
Annual property tax
$1,043

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in St. James Parish

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$152
per month · 12.7¢/kWh
Natural gas
$34
per month
Annual total
$2,232
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in St. James Parish

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
6.7%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in St. James Parish

State and local tax rates for Louisiana.

State income tax
4.3%
Top marginal rate
State sales tax
4.5%
Combined sales tax
9.6%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in St. James Parish

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
27.9 min
Drive alone
84.1%
Public transit
0.3%
Work from home
6.3%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for St. James Parish

What it costs to live in St. James Parish each month.

Single person
$2,753
per month
  • Rent $741
  • Energy $186
  • Water $55
  • Groceries $315
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $546
  • State tax $110
Couple
$3,972
per month
  • Rent $972
  • Energy $223
  • Water $65
  • Groceries $522
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $726
  • State tax $180
Family
$6,484
per month
  • Rent $1,362
  • Energy $279
  • Water $75
  • Groceries $792
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $726
  • State tax $180

Frequently asked questions about St. James Parish

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in St. James Parish?

In St. James Parish, LA, a one-bedroom apartment averages $741 per month, a two-bedroom averages $972 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,362 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in St. James Parish?

In St. James Parish, LA, the average household income is $64,536 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $43,441 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in St. James Parish?

The estimated cost of living in St. James Parish, LA is approximately $2,753 per month for a single person, $3,972 for a couple, $6,484 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in St. James Parish?

The combined sales tax rate in St. James Parish, LA is 9.55%, which includes the Louisiana state rate of 4.45% plus an average local rate of 5.10%.

Is St. James Parish an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in St. James Parish, LA would need approximately $2,753 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $64,536 per year ($5,378 per month). St. James Parish has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in St. James Parish?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in St. James Parish, LA is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 6.7% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in St. James Parish?

The average home value in St. James Parish, LA is $197,800, with average annual property taxes of $1,043, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does St. James Parish compare to other areas?

You can compare St. James Parish, LA with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. St. James Parish is in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area.

Other counties in Louisiana

Browse the full list of counties in Louisiana, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Louisiana

Compare St. James Parish with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources