Louisiana vs Texas
Side-by-side construction cost comparison for 2026. Building a 2,000 sq ft home in Louisiana saves approximately $8,000.
More affordable for new construction
Louisiana
$169/sq ft vs $173/sq ft — saves $8,000 on a 2,000 sq ft build
| Metric | Louisiana | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 $/sq ft | $169 ✓ | $173 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $253,500 ✓ | $259,500 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $338,000 ✓ | $346,000 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $422,500 ✓ | $432,500 |
| Labor Index | 0.88 ✓ | 0.90 |
| Material Index | 0.92 ✓ | 0.94 |
| Avg Permit Cost | $2,500 | $2,400 ✓ |
| Median Home Price | $218,000 ✓ | $322,000 |
| Home Price YoY | +1.8% | +3.1% |
| Climate | Humid subtropical | Humid subtropical/Semi-arid |
Louisiana Notes
- ›Pier and beam foundations in flood areas
- ›Hurricane construction requirements
- ›High humidity moisture barriers essential
- ›Expansive clay soils
Texas Notes
- ›Expansive clay "black cotton" soils require pier foundations
- ›Post-Winter Storm Uri code upgrades
- ›Extreme heat and wind requirements
- ›Fast-growing markets in Dallas, Austin, Houston
Cost by Home Size
| Size | Louisiana | Texas | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 sq ft | $84,500 | $86,500 | Louisiana saves $2,000 |
| 1,000 sq ft | $169,000 | $173,000 | Louisiana saves $4,000 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $253,500 | $259,500 | Louisiana saves $6,000 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $338,000 | $346,000 | Louisiana saves $8,000 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $422,500 | $432,500 | Louisiana saves $10,000 |
| 3,000 sq ft | $507,000 | $519,000 | Louisiana saves $12,000 |
| 4,000 sq ft | $676,000 | $692,000 | Louisiana saves $16,000 |
| 5,000 sq ft | $845,000 | $865,000 | Louisiana saves $20,000 |