Residents in Monroe recently received good news in the form of a recent study that found Monroe the most affordable place to live in Louisiana.
Monroe has been listed as the most affordable place to live in Louisiana by the cost-of-living index at just over 88 percent of the national average.
The cost-of-living index takes into consideration the pricing of basic living necessities, health care, transportation and food.
The University of Louisiana of Monroe Center for Business and Economic Research provides the data for the Monroe MSA (Monroe Statistical Area).
The news provided a shock to those not familiar with the Monroe area, underestimating the affordability required to legitimately start a life in this city.
“It’s just so funny to me , seeing as Monroe is so crowded”, said Brandon Clark, a junior communications major at ULM.
“You would think the cost of living would be more expensive,” Clark said.
For families, this is a notable plus when it pertains to raising children in an environment where they will be able to support them easier.
For Monroe, the two most affordable cost categories were health care at 80 percent and transportation at 82 percent. The next lowest cost categories are utilities (85 percent) housing (87 percent) and miscellaneous goods and services (89 percent).