Indiana to Louisiana Moving Guide
Updated June 13, 2025

Planning a 935 mile interstate move from Indiana to Louisiana? This moving guide will help you compare living in Indiana vs Louisiana across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like cold winters vs milder winters), food & health (like Pork Tenderloin Sandwich vs Gumbo), real estate & housing (ranch, colonial vs french creole, plantation), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Louisiana), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pork Tenderloin Sandwich and Hoosier Pie, but get your taste buds ready for Gumbo & Jambalaya
- Louisiana housing costs are 16% less expensive than they are in Indiana
- Rent in Louisiana is 2.47% more affordable than in Indiana
- Moving from Indiana to Louisiana will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Indiana to Louisiana movers is MVM Moving & Storage
Indiana to Louisiana Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Indiana to Louisiana
- Cold winters
- Limited hospitality scene
- Flat landscapes
- Fewer cultural festivals
- Milder winters
- Diverse cuisine
- Scenic bayous
- Rich cultural heritage
- Higher cost of living
- Hurricane vulnerability
- High humidity
- Big city congestion
- Affordable living
- Low hurricane risk
- Less humidity
- Friendly small towns
Pros of moving from Indiana to Louisiana
- Say goodbye to cold winters and hello to milder winters
- Look forward to moving away from a limited hospitality scene and moving to Louisiana with diverse cuisine
- Swap the flat landscapes of Indiana for the scenic bayous in Louisiana
- Get ready for a rich cultural heritage in Louisiana
Cons of moving from Indiana to Louisiana
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from affordable living in Indiana to live with a higher cost of living in Louisiana
- You'll lose out on the pro of a low hurricane risk and have to settle for the con of hurricane vulnerability
- Time to bid farewell to less humidity and get used to high humidity in Louisiana
- Swap friendly small towns for big city congestion
Indiana vs. Louisiana: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Indiana | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich | Gumbo |
Most popular meat dish | Hoosier Pie | Jambalaya |
Most popular street food item | Corn Dogs | Po'boys |
Most popular vegan food | Roasted Corn | Okra Gumbo |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± |
If you're moving from Indiana to Louisiana, you will be trading the iconic Pork Tenderloin Sandwich of Indiana for the equally delicious Gumbo of Louisiana. And while the locals in Indiana rave about their flavorful Hoosier Pie and sumptuous Corn Dogs, Louisiana residents know they have tasty Jambalaya and Po'boys to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Roasted Corn they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Okra Gumbo of Louisiana. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Indiana eateries like St. Elmo Steak House, Bluebeard, and Milktooth. After the boxes are unpacked in Louisiana, don't wait too long before making your way to Louisiana's acclaimed eateries like Commander's Palace, Willie Mae's Scotch House, and CafΓ© du Monde.
When comparing lifestyles, Louisiana shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Indiana. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Louisiana compared to what you are used to in Indiana. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Louisiana.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Indiana and Louisiana
Comparison | Indiana | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch, Colonial | French Creole, Plantation |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, Family-friendly | Historic details, Waterfront proximity |
- The Ranch and Colonial architecture that Indiana is known for will be replaced with the French Creole and Plantation architecture typical of Louisiana.
- Compared to Indiana's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and family-friendly features, Louisiana real estate listings often highlight historic details and waterfront proximity.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Louisiana is more walkable than Indiana.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Louisiana is more bike-friendly than Indiana.
- Louisiana has more of an urban feel than Indiana.
- Louisiana housing costs are 16% less expensive than they are in Indiana, with a median home price of $199,091 compared to Indianaβs $236,990.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Louisiana have increased by 13% compared to a 54% increase in Indiana.
- Rent in Louisiana is 2.47% more affordable than in Indiana.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Indiana and Louisiana
Comparison | Indiana | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ |
Avg. UV Index | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ |
Natural Disasters | Tornadoes, Severe Thunderstorms | Hurricanes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Varies; generally Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/64 | 91/73 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 35/18 | 62/42 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 42 | 60 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 22 | 0.2 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Indiana to Louisiana. Louisiana gets 15% more sunshine days than Indiana.
- Louisiana has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Indiana.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in Indiana, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and floods in Louisiana.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Louisiana is 6 degrees warmer than in Indiana.
- The average winter lows are 24 degrees warmer than they are in Indiana.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Louisiana. Louisiana receives 18 more inches of rain compared to Indiana.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Indiana and Louisiana
Comparison | Indiana | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $66,785 | $55,416 |
Cost of Living Index | 92.95 | 96 |
State Income Tax | 3.23% | 2% to 6% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.87% | 0.53% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7% | 9.45% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Healthcare | Tourism, Petrochemicals, Naval |
Affluence | Moderate | Low |
Poverty | Lower | Higher |
Homelessness | Moderate | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Louisiana tend to earn about 17% less than those in Indiana
- The COLI in Louisiana will be 3% higher than what you are used to living in Indiana
- The state income tax in LA is 2% to 6% compared to 3.23% in IN
- The affluence in Louisiana is low compared to moderate in Indiana
- The poverty level is higher in Louisiana compared to lower in Indiana
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Indiana and high in Louisiana
Political and Religious Climate in Indiana vs. Louisiana
Comparison | Indiana | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Republican | Lean Republican |
Local Politics | Mixed; varies by county | Conservative in rural areas, liberal in urban |
Religion | Christian majority, with significant Protestant and Catholic populations | Strong Catholic presence, distinctively higher than national average |
- Indiana tends to lean Republican in its political climate
- Louisiana, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Republican
- Louisiana's religious environment can be described as having a strong Catholic presence, distinctively higher than the national average
- Indiana's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Christian majority, with significant Protestant and Catholic populations
Education Guide When Moving from Indiana to Louisiana
Comparison | Indiana | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Indiana University Purdue University Notre Dame | Louisiana State University Tulane University University of Louisiana |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Signature School (Evansville) Edison Elementary (South Bend) William Henry Harrison High (West Lafayette) | Lusher Charter School (New Orleans) Baton Rouge Magnet High School (Baton Rouge) Thomas Jefferson High (Gretna) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | West Lafayette Jr/Sr High (West Lafayette) Brown County Junior High (Nashville) Fall Creek Valley Middle School (Indianapolis) | Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy (Jefferson) Glasgow Middle School (Baton Rouge) Young Audiences Charter School (Gretna) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Carmel High School (Carmel) Fishers High School (Fishers) Zionsville Community High (Zionsville) | Benjamin Franklin High School (New Orleans) Haynes Academy for Advanced Studies (Metairie) Baton Rouge Magnet High School (Baton Rouge) |
Top 3 private high schools | Park Tudor School (Indianapolis) Culver Academies (Culver) Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School (Indianapolis) | Isidore Newman School (New Orleans) Metairie Park Country Day School (Metairie) Episcopal School of Baton Rouge (Baton Rouge) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Traders Point Christian Academy (Whitestown) Heritage Christian School (Indianapolis) The International School (Indianapolis) | Louise S. McGehee School (New Orleans) St. Martin's Episcopal School (Metairie) Academy of the Sacred Heart (New Orleans) |
Top 3 School Districts | West Lafayette School Corporation Carmel Clay Schools Zionsville Community Schools | Jefferson Parish Public School System Orleans Parish School Board East Baton Rouge Parish School System |
How Much Do Indiana to Louisiana Movers Cost?
Moving 935 miles from Indiana to Louisiana will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Bulldogs Moving Co.
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,733 | 300 ft3 | $5.78 |
1 Bedroom | $2,576 | 450 ft3 | $5.73 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,256 | 750 ft3 | $5.68 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,188 | 1100 ft3 | $5.63 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,920 | 1600 ft3 | $5.58 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,945 | 1800 ft3 | $5.53 |
Top Indiana to Louisiana Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Indiana to Louisiana movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

MVM Moving & Storage
Best moving company overall for Indiana to Louisiana