Relocation

Cost of living by state

Weighing a move? Compare any two states side by side — cost of living, taxes, and demographics — then pick your specialty to see what that salary is really worth once it's adjusted for local prices. Green means cheaper or better; red means pricier or worse.

Overall cost of living

Louisiana is 14.7% cheaper overall than Oregon.

What Other surgical specialties pay is really worth

Median pay → estimated after-tax take-home → adjusted for each state's cost of living.

Oregon

BLS doesn't publish a wage for Other surgical specialties in Oregon. Cost of living and taxes below still apply.

Louisiana

Median pay
$544,450
After tax
$351,724

$398,780worth here

Pay source: BLS OEWS May 2024 — “Surgeons, All Other”.

Take-home is an estimate for a single filer taking the standard deduction (federal + FICA + state income tax, wages only) — not tax advice.

MetricOregonLouisiana
Cost of living (US avg = 100)
Overall cost of living103.488.2
Housing (rent)108.663.1
Utilities107.071.5
Goods105.393.7
Other services100.395.7
Taxes
Top income tax rate9.90%3%
Sales tax (avg)0%10.12%
Property tax (effective)0.78%0.55%
About the state
Population4,238,7144,621,025
Median household income$80,426$60,023
Median age40.137.8
Homeownership rate63.40%67.30%
Median home value$454,200$208,700
▼ green = lower cost / better▲ red = higher cost / worse

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities (2024) · U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts · Tax Foundation. Figures are the latest published; cost-of-living is a price-level index, not tax-adjusted take-home pay.

Browse all state profiles

VitalPost shows sourced, public data for context only — it isn't financial or tax advice. Cost-of-living is a price-level index (US average = 100); taxes shown are statewide/averaged and don't capture local income or the specifics of your situation.

Cost of Living by State — Compare & Relocate — VitalPost