Louisiana · Census, HUD and BEA figures · Updated

Cost of Living in St. Mary Parish, LA

Prices around St. Mary Parish, LA run 11.8% below the U.S. average (BEA, Louisiana). The typical household there earns $52,576 a year, and HUD puts a two-bedroom at $947 a month. Keeping that rent under 30% of income takes about $37,880 a year.

St. Mary Parish, LA at a glance

Median household income

$52,576$4,381 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year
2-bedroom rent$947HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rent
Price level (U.S. = 100)88.2-11.8% · BEA, Louisiana
Electricity13.5¢per kWh · EIA Residential LA
Population47,828Census ACS 5-year estimate

How much rent can you afford in St. Mary Parish, LA?

HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.

Affordable (< 30% of income)
HUD Fair Market Rent$947Monthly market rent
Share of gross income21.6%Recommended max: 30%
Annual income needed$37,880To meet the 30% standard
Max affordable rent$1,314At 30% of $52,576
0%30% (Affordability standard)100%
Compare against:

How much is rent in St. Mary Parish, LA? By bedroom, 2026

HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for St. Mary Parish, LA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.

HUD Fair Market Rent in St. Mary Parish, LA, fiscal 2026
Unit SizeMonthly RentAnnual Rent30% Rule Min. Income% of Median Income
Studio / Efficiency$717$8,604$28,68016.4%
1-Bedroom Apartment$722$8,664$28,88016.5%
2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark$947$11,364$37,88021.6%
3-Bedroom Home$1,244$14,928$49,76028.4%
4-Bedroom Home$1,512$18,144$60,48034.5%

Rent in St. Mary Parish, LA, with the wage each unit needs →

What a typical income covers in St. Mary Parish, LA

The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $52,576 a year ($4,381 a month before tax).

Needs (50%)$2,191/moRent ($947 2-BR), utilities (~$121/mo), groceries, transit
Wants (30%)$1,314/moEating out, travel, subscriptions and the rest
Savings and debt (20%)$876/moEmergency fund, retirement, paying down loans

What $52,576 leaves after Louisiana taxes

Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Louisiana tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.

$52,576
$20,000$110,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$52,576
Net 82%
Fed 8%
LA 2%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$43,234After all taxes
Monthly deposit$3,603Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,663Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate17.8%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$4,129 / yr
Louisiana state income tax$1,191 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$4,022 / yr

Living in St. Mary Parish, LA: common questions

What is the median household income in St. Mary Parish, LA?

According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in St. Mary Parish, LA is $52,576 per year (approximately $4,381 per month).

What is the average rent in St. Mary Parish, LA?

The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $717 for a studio, $722 for one bedroom, $947 for two, $1,244 for three and $1,512 for four, utilities included.

It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.

Is St. Mary Parish, LA expensive to live in?

Prices there run 11.8% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for Louisiana is 88.2, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.

How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in St. Mary Parish, LA?

To keep a $947 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $37,880 a year, or $3,157 a month. That is 72% of what the typical household in St. Mary Parish, LA earns.

How much do you need to live comfortably in St. Mary Parish, LA?

On the local median income of $52,576 ($4,381 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,191 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,314 for everything else and $876 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $947 takes 43% of the needs share.

How much is the electric bill in St. Mary Parish, LA?

Homes in Louisiana paid 13.5¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $121. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.