West Monroe is among the most affordable places in the state and nation for assisted living services, with local seniors paying monthly median rates of $2,650. This is well below the Louisiana average of $3,748, and it’s very competitive compared to the national rate of $4,500. The nearest surveyed cities have considerably higher costs, including Alexandria, where rates are $250 higher than in West Monroe, and Shreveport, where assisted living facilities charge average monthly rates of $3,870. In the southern part of the state, care costs are significantly higher than in West Monroe, with seniors in Lake Charles paying $4,000 for care and those obtaining care in Baton Rouge paying $4,125.