Living Cost Compare
Atlanta

Georgia

$1,740/mo est.

vs
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,740 in Atlanta, GA versus $1,170 in New Orleans, LA. Overall, New Orleans, LA is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Atlanta, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,938 in Atlanta, GA and $55,339 in New Orleans, LA — about 32% higher in Atlanta, GA. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Atlanta, GA
New Orleans, LA

Rent

Studio
$1,669
$953
+43% in Atlanta, GA
1 Bedroom
$1,576
$1,019
+35% in Atlanta, GA
2 Bedroom
$1,701
$1,287
+24% in Atlanta, GA
3 Bedroom
$1,557
$1,392
+11% in Atlanta, GA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,600
$296,400
+30% in Atlanta, GA

Income

Median Household Income
$81,938
$55,339
+32% in Atlanta, GA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,170
$47,290
+8% in Atlanta, GA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.0 yr
38.4 yr
+4.4 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
46.3%
50.5%
+4.2 pp in New Orleans, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
58.4%
42.0%
+16.4 pp in Atlanta, GA
Avg Commute
26.8 min
22.7 min
+4.1 min in Atlanta, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
603.5
1,361.1
+126% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
3,548.3
5,089.6
+43% in New Orleans, LA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
62.6°F
70.6°F
+8.0°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
49.7 in
62.3 in
+12.6 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.30/gal
$3.99/gal
+7% in Atlanta, GA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
$1.25
+50% in Atlanta, GA

Adult base one-way fare — MARTA vs New Orleans RTA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.0
14.2
+6% in Atlanta, GA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.41
$16.62
+10% in Atlanta, GA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.16
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$1.73
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.56
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.61
about equal

Average prices — South vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / LA)
4%
5%
+1.0 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.19%
3.00%
+2.2 pp in GA

Atlanta vs New Orleans — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or New Orleans?
New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Atlanta, GA's $1,740, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Atlanta than in New Orleans?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Atlanta versus $41,000 in New Orleans.
Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or New Orleans?
Atlanta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); New Orleans under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).