Is New Orleans expensive to live in?

New Orleans is among the more affordable of the 50 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,019 per month ranks #40 of 50 and is 17% lower than the $1,223 median.

What is the average rent in New Orleans?

Average rent in New Orleans, LA runs a studio around $953, a one-bedroom around $1,019, a two-bedroom around $1,287, a three-bedroom around $1,392 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in New Orleans?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,019 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year. The median household income here is $55,339.

How much does it cost to live in New Orleans per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in New Orleans is about $1,170 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

A body of water with a city in the background — New Orleans, LA

Cost of Living in New Orleans, LA

Population 369,749 · Louisiana

~$1,170/mo est.1BR $1,019Home $296,400

Photo: David Lin / Unsplash

Compare with:

The cost of living in New Orleans, LA is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $1,019 a month — 17% lower than the $1,223 median across the 50 large US cities we track. Studios average $953 and two-bedrooms $1,287.

Median household income here is $55,339, 27% lower than the $75,900 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $1,170 before food and transport. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $1,019

Studio

$953

1 Bedroom

$1,019

2 Bedroom

$1,287

3 Bedroom

$1,392

Buying a Home$296,400

Median Home Value

$296,400

Income$55,339

Median Household Income

$55,339

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,290

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesSouth

Milk (gal)

$4.16

Bread (lb)

$1.73

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.56

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

Bananas (lb)

$0.61

Average prices, South (BLS, 2026-04-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities14.2¢/kWh

Electricity

14.2¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$16.62/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-03-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$3.99/gal

Regular Gasoline (Gulf Coast (PADD 3))

$3.99/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-05-25.

Public Transit$1.25

Base Fare (New Orleans RTA)

$1.25

Adult base one-way fare on the primary agency (2026).

State Taxes (LA)5% sales

State Sales Tax

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 3.00%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime1,361.1 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

1,361.1

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

5,089.6

FBI Crime Data Explorer, New Orleans Police Department (2023). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 38.4 yrs

Median Age

38.4 yrs

Homeownership

50.5%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

42.0%

Avg Commute

22.7 min

Climate70.6°F

Avg Annual Temperature

70.6°F

Annual Precipitation

62.3 in

New Orleans cost of living — FAQ

Is New Orleans expensive to live in?: New Orleans is among the more affordable of the 50 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,019 per month ranks #40 of 50 and is 17% lower than the $1,223 median.
What is the average rent in New Orleans?: Average rent in New Orleans, LA runs a studio around $953, a one-bedroom around $1,019, a two-bedroom around $1,287, a three-bedroom around $1,392 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in New Orleans?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,019 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year. The median household income here is $55,339.
How much does it cost to live in New Orleans per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in New Orleans is about $1,170 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare New Orleans with nearby cities

New Orleans vs Houston New Orleans vs Memphis New Orleans vs Atlanta New Orleans vs Dallas New Orleans vs Arlington New Orleans vs Austin

Nearby cities

Houston, TX 318 mi Memphis, TN 359 mi Atlanta, GA 424 mi Dallas, TX 442 mi Arlington, TX 458 mi Austin, TX 459 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.