A+
10%
Overall NAT. AVG.
3%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
19%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Sulphur Louisiana National
Cost of living9091100
Goods & Services9796100
Groceries9595100
Health care9999100
Housing8181100
Transportation10796100
Utilities7184100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Sulphur, LA

Understanding the cost of living in Sulphur can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Sulphur cost of living index is 90, which is 10% lower than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.

Everyday expenditures like food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care in Sulphur are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Sulphur can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.

Is Sulphur Affordable?

Is Sulphur affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Sulphur, the median home price is 23.7% lower than the national average and monthly rent prices are 9.5% lower than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Sulphur boasting a median household income of $54,537, 1.4% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Sulphur?

Urbanization: Urban areas with a wealth of amenities and employment opportunities tend to come with a higher price tag for living. Why? Well, more people want to be there, which drives up home prices and rents. On the flip side, less densely populated rural areas or places where there's not as much demand usually mean fewer attractions, things to do and slower job growth. That often results in a lower cost of living.

Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Sulphur, the transportation index is 7.4% higher than the national average.

Housing: Elevated demand for housing within coveted locales has the propensity to escalate both property values and rental rates, thereby serving as a primary catalyst for an augmented cost of living. Conversely, areas witnessing diminished housing demand, particularly within less desirable environs, often experience an inversely proportional effect, leading to price reductions and subsequently contributing to a more modest cost of living. In Sulphur, the housing index is 19.4% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Sulphur cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Sulphur is equal to the Louisiana average
  • The cost of living in Sulphur is 10% lower than the national average
  • Sulphur housing is 19% lower than the national average
  • Louisiana general sales tax is 13% lower than the national average
  • Louisiana state income tax is 29% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Sulphur

See all the best places to live around Sulphur

Compare Sulphur, LA Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$62,074$5,173$1,448$1,862
      Renters$41,823$3,485$976$1,255
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in Sulphur, LA, we can look at the percentage of income that is available to be spent on monthly housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). To stay on the safe side, a consumer should not spend more than 28% of his or her gross income on housing-related expenses and costs and not more than 36% of income on all expenses and debts. Homeowners in Sulphur have a median income of $62,074. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $1,448 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $41,823, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $976.

      Louisiana Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Louisiana 4.45% 11.45%

      Louisiana Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Louisiana 1.85% 4.25%

      Goods & Services

      Item Sulphur National avg. Difference
      Haircut $28.06$24.2615.6%
      Beauty Salon $36.33$45.5620.3%
      Toothpaste $3.55$3.704.0%
      Shampoo $1.16$1.289.2%
      Movie $8.80$12.1327.5%
      Bowling $13.11$18.0027.2%

      Groceries

      Item Sulphur National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.20$5.8411.0%
      Fried Chicken $1.40$1.5711.0%
      Milk $4.49$4.673.9%
      Potatoes $5.35$4.938.5%
      Pizza $10.35$12.0914.3%
      Beer $9.97$10.414.2%

      Health Care

      Item Sulphur National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $122.17$125.682.8%
      Doctor $140.61$135.783.6%
      Dentist $115.15$113.291.6%
      Ibuprofen $10.15$10.654.7%
      Lipitor $532.22$468.6013.6%

      Housing

      Item Sulphur National avg. Difference
      Home Price $140,900.00$184,700.0023.7%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,906.83$2,346.6918.7%
      Apartment Rent $859.00$949.009.5%

      Transportation

      Item Sulphur National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.08$3.4610.9%
      Tire Balancing $50.28$59.9216.1%

      Utilities

      Item Sulphur National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $127.90$193.9934.1%
      Phone $186.90$192.252.8%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Gillis, LA5877426.0%
      Westlake, LA4,7888416.4%
      Vinton, LA3,2968415.9%
      Carlyss, LA5,1858812.4%
      Lake Charles, LA77,832928.3%
      Sulphur, LA20,122909.7%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Rocky River, OH20,1151065.6%
      South St. Paul, MN20,1321000.3%
      Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON20,111n/a 
      Dixon, CA20,10614040.1%
      Ferndale, MI20,1391000.5%
      Sulphur, LA20,122909.7%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.