Star City, AR vs Port Barre, LA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Port Barre, LA has a modeled overall cost index 21.9% higher than Star City, AR.

Star City, AR · modeled 2BR rent
$880 / month
Port Barre, LA · modeled 2BR rent
$840 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Star City, AR and Port Barre, LA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $1,283/month in Port Barre, LA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $165,392 in Port Barre, LA

Regional cost estimates: Star City, AR uses Memphis, TN. Port Barre, LA uses Baton Rouge, LA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 21.9%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,283
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$15.4K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Star City, AR

Population:2K
Cost Index:
66.7
100 = national average
Typical Home:$131K

Port Barre, LA

Population:2K
Cost Index:
81.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$127K

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Star City, AR

The Natural State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Arkansas, this city has a population of 2K residents.

Port Barre, LA

The Pelican State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Louisiana, this city has a population of 2K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Star City, AR vs Port Barre, LA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↑ 33.1%
Star City, AR
$1,820
Port Barre, LA
$2,421
Difference
$602
more
Other
↑ 21.0%
Star City, AR
$1,834
Port Barre, LA
$2,219
Difference
$385
more
Transportation
↑ 15.2%
Star City, AR
$1,362
Port Barre, LA
$1,569
Difference
$207
more
Groceries
↑ 10.8%
Star City, AR
$1,169
Port Barre, LA
$1,295
Difference
$126
more
Healthcare
↓ 4.0%
Star City, AR
$655
Port Barre, LA
$629
Difference
$26.41
less
All Utilities
↓ 1.5%
Star City, AR
$660
Port Barre, LA
$650
Difference
$10.01
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$630
To$640
↑ $10.00
1 Bed
From$670
To$640
↓ $30.00
2 Bed
From$880
To$840
↓ $40.00
3 Bed
From$1,220
To$1,050
↓ $170
Star City, ARZIP-level data

1BR range: $670–$670/mo

Port Barre, LAZIP-level data

1BR range: $640–$640/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Star City, AR
$8,783
Monthly in Port Barre, LA
$1,283
Difference

Home Values

Star City
Port Barre
$131K
Median Value
$127K
↓ -2.4%
YoY Change
↓ -11.9%
↑ +8.8%
5-Year Change
↓ -17.6%

Homes in Port Barre are 3% less expensive than Star City

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $1.3K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$106
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.8%
Rate difference

Star City, AR

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Arkansas State Tax
Effective: 6.0%
$9.0K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.7%
$46.0K
Take-Home Pay
$8,664/month
$104.0K

Port Barre, LA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Louisiana State Tax
Effective: 5.2%
$7.8K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.8%
$44.8K
Take-Home Pay
$8,770/month
$105.2K

Additional Tax Information

Star City, AR Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.4%
Property Tax:0.6%

Port Barre, LA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.6%
Property Tax:0.5%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Star City
Port Barre
55 Moderate
Air Quality
51 Moderate
34.4%
Good Air Days
48.9%
99 High
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🌡🫨
Top Hazards
🌊🌀🌡
▲+2.8°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.2°F
54 days
Heat Days >95°F
51 days
▲+2.8°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.2°F
54 days
Heat Days >95°F
51 days

Before moving from Star City, AR to Port Barre, LA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Port Barre, LA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Star City, AR. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Star City to Port Barre moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Port Barre, LA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Star City, AR vs Port Barre, LA

How do the cost estimates for Star City, AR and Port Barre, LA compare?

Port Barre, LA has a modeled overall cost index 21.9% higher than Star City, AR. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Star City, AR, the model estimates $165,392 in Port Barre, LA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Star City, AR and Port Barre, LA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $880/month in Star City, AR and $840/month in Port Barre, LA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Arkansas and Louisiana on TaxTakeHome.com

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