Calculate your monthly mortgage payment in Louisiana including principal, interest, and Louisiana's average property tax rate of 0.55%.
Louisiana Property Tax Note: Louisiana has a low property tax rate of 0.55%, partially due to the homestead exemption that exempts the first $75,000 of a home's value from property taxes. Louisiana property taxes are among the lowest in the South. However, flood insurance is a major additional cost, especially in coastal and low-lying areas. New Orleans has a complex property tax structure with multiple taxing jurisdictions.
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Louisiana average: 0.55%
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Louisiana Monthly Payment
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Median Louisiana home ($215,000) — 20% down — 7% rate — 30yr
Component
Monthly
Annual
Principal & Interest
$1,144.32
$13,732
Property Tax (0.55%)
$98.54
$1,183
Homeowners Insurance
$150.00
$1,800
Total PITI
$1,392.86
$16,714
Total interest over 30yr: $239,955. PMI not included.
Monthly property tax on a $400,000 home by state
State
Avg Rate
Monthly/$400k
Alabama
0.41%
$136.67
Alaska
1.04%
$346.67
Arizona
0.62%
$206.67
Arkansas
0.62%
$206.67
California
0.76%
$253.33
Colorado
0.51%
$170.00
Connecticut
1.79%
$596.67
Delaware
0.57%
$190.00
Florida
0.89%
$296.67
Georgia
0.92%
$306.67
Hawaii
0.29%
$96.67
Idaho
0.69%
$230.00
Illinois
2.23%
$743.33
Indiana
0.85%
$283.33
Iowa
1.57%
$523.33
Kansas
1.41%
$470.00
Kentucky
0.86%
$286.67
Louisiana ★
0.55%
$183.33
Maine
1.09%
$363.33
Maryland
1.09%
$363.33
Massachusetts
1.14%
$380.00
Michigan
1.54%
$513.33
Minnesota
1.12%
$373.33
Mississippi
0.81%
$270.00
Missouri
1.01%
$336.67
Montana
0.84%
$280.00
Nebraska
1.73%
$576.67
Nevada
0.55%
$183.33
New Hampshire
1.93%
$643.33
New Jersey
2.23%
$743.33
New Mexico
0.80%
$266.67
New York
1.72%
$573.33
North Carolina
0.80%
$266.67
North Dakota
0.98%
$326.67
Ohio
1.53%
$510.00
Oklahoma
0.88%
$293.33
Oregon
0.87%
$290.00
Pennsylvania
1.49%
$496.67
Rhode Island
1.53%
$510.00
South Carolina
0.57%
$190.00
South Dakota
1.22%
$406.67
Tennessee
0.67%
$223.33
Texas
1.60%
$533.33
Utah
0.52%
$173.33
Vermont
1.83%
$610.00
Virginia
0.87%
$290.00
Washington
0.98%
$326.67
Washington DC
0.55%
$183.33
West Virginia
0.59%
$196.67
Wisconsin
1.76%
$586.67
Wyoming
0.61%
$203.33
Louisiana has a low property tax rate of 0.55%, partially due to the homestead exemption that exempts the first $75,000 of a home's value from property taxes. Louisiana property taxes are among the lowest in the South. However, flood insurance is a major additional cost, especially in coastal and low-lying areas. New Orleans has a complex property tax structure with multiple taxing jurisdictions.
Median home price: $215,000. Average property tax: 0.55%. Cost of living index: 92 (US avg = 100).
The average effective property tax rate in Louisiana is 0.55%. This means on a $215,000 home, you would pay approximately $1,183/year ($98.54/month) in property taxes. Note that actual property taxes are based on the county-assessed value, which may differ from the purchase price, and individual rates vary by county.
At the Louisiana median home price of $215,000 with 20% down and a 7% rate, total monthly housing costs (PITI) are approximately $1,392.86. Using the 28% housing-to-income rule, you would need a gross monthly income of about $4,974.51, or $59,694/year. With less down payment or higher home price, the required income increases.
Louisiana is a common law (equitable distribution) state. Spouses can own property separately, and lenders typically evaluate only the borrower(s) named on the mortgage application.
A 30-year mortgage has lower monthly payments but you pay significantly more interest over time. For example, on a $172,000 loan at 7%, monthly P&I is $1,144.32 (30yr) vs. $1,545.98 (15yr). Choose 30-year if cash flow is tight; choose 15-year if you can comfortably afford the higher payment.
Beyond the mortgage payment, budget for: (1) Closing costs — typically 2–5% of the loan amount at purchase; (2) Home inspection — $300–$600; (3) Property taxes — $1,183/year at Louisiana average rates on a $215,000 home; (4) Homeowners insurance — $1,200–$2,400/year; (5) HOA fees if applicable; (6) Maintenance reserve — budget 1–2% of home value annually.
Louisiana Mortgage Math: Property Tax, Insurance, and PITI
Your Louisiana mortgage payment has four components — the PITI breakdown: Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance. Principal and interest are determined by your loan amount, rate, and term. Property tax and homeowners insurance are usually escrowed monthly. In Louisiana, the average effective property tax rate is 0.55% — below the US average of 1.10%.
On the median Louisiana home ($215,000), the property tax line alone runs roughly $1,183 annually — about $99 per month before factoring in any local supplemental levies. Homeowners insurance typically adds $1,200–$2,400/year depending on coverage and risk profile, with hurricane/wildfire-prone areas paying more.
Louisiana Home Prices in National Context
The median home price in Louisiana is $215,000, 48.7% below the US median of $419,200. Relative to Louisiana's median household income of $53,571, the median home costs about 4.0× annual income — a useful affordability benchmark. Home-price-to-income ratios above 5× typically signal a stretched market; below 3× indicates affordability headroom.
Louisiana has a low property tax rate of 0.55%, partially due to the homestead exemption that exempts the first $75,000 of a home's value from property taxes. Louisiana property taxes are among the lowest in the South. However, flood insurance is a major additional cost, especially in coastal and low-lying areas. New Orleans has a complex property tax structure with multiple taxing jurisdictions. Local variation within Louisiana can be substantial — coastal/metro counties typically run well above the state median, while inland and rural counties can sit far below. Use the calculator above with your specific target price, and verify the property tax line by looking up the assessed value and millage rate for your target county.
Affordability Math: How Much Home Can You Actually Carry?
Conventional underwriting caps total housing costs at 28% of gross monthly income (the "front-end" ratio) and total debt at 36%–43% (the "back-end" ratio). On the Louisiana median household income of $53,571, that's a maximum housing budget of about $1,250 per month. With Louisiana's lower-than-average property taxes, that budget supports a mortgage in the range of $133,928–$187,499 at current 30-year fixed rates.
The 20% down payment is a useful benchmark — it eliminates private mortgage insurance (PMI) and signals creditworthiness — but isn't required. FHA loans accept 3.5% down with a credit score of 580+; VA loans (eligible veterans) and USDA loans (rural areas) can offer 0% down. Each path has tradeoffs in upfront fees, ongoing insurance, and rate competitiveness; run the math both ways before committing.
Closing Costs and Ongoing Ownership Costs in Louisiana
Beyond the down payment, budget 2%–5% of the loan amount for closing costs: lender origination fees, title insurance, appraisal, recording fees, prepaid taxes and insurance, and (in some states) transfer taxes. On a $172,000 loan, that's roughly $5,160–$8,600 due at closing. Some sellers will credit closing costs in soft markets — always ask.
Plan for ongoing maintenance reserves of 1%–2% of home value annually — about $3,225/year on the Louisiana median home. HOA dues (if applicable), utilities, and major capital expenses (roof, HVAC, hot water heater) accumulate. The all-in cost of homeownership in Louisiana typically runs 1.3×–1.5× the mortgage payment alone once tax, insurance, maintenance, and major repairs are included over a typical holding period.