Example household · Houston, TX · $83,730 · same pay · 1 adult

Monroe skyline

Uprootmap

Houston vs Monroe

Houston and Monroe

Photo: TheLionHasSeen / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.

Same pay in both cities. One adult, one bedroom.

Swap city

Other cities

So you know: homicide deaths in Monroe are above the US rate in this release, 15.3 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).

Why people look at Houston to Monroe

In 2022-2023, 74 households filed a move from Houston to Monroe (about 155 people, average adjusted gross income $51,068). 106 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.

A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,188 in Houston and $860 in Monroe. Houston has no state tax on wages. Monroe has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Monroe is 85% of the national level for the same work, against 102% in Houston.

Monroe averages 217 sunny days, with July highs around 92°F and January nights around 40°F. Houston is 204 sunny days, 94°F in July, 45°F in January. Commutes average 24 minutes in Monroe and 29 in Houston.

These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.

How we figure this

Who already made this move

In 2022-2023, 74 households moved Houston → Monroe (about 155 people, average AGI $51,068). 106 households went the other way.

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.

The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Houston and Monroe changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.

What the move itself costs

About 333 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.

Full-service mover
$1,900–$3,550
Container or pod
$1,300–$2,450
Rent a truck
$550–$1,050

Movers in Monroe and how to hire one →

Explore more

Questions

Is Monroe cheaper than Houston after tax and rent?

Yes. Monroe leaves about $233 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,188 in Houston and $860 in Monroe.

Does Monroe have state income tax?

Monroe is in Louisiana, which taxes wage income.

Did people actually move from Houston to Monroe?

Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.