Living Cost Compare
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,410/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 $1,410 in Baltimore, MD versus $1,170 in New Orleans, LA. Overall, New Orleans, LA is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Baltimore, MD, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $55,339 in New Orleans, LA — about 7% higher in Baltimore, MD. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD
New Orleans, LA

Rent

Studio
$1,050
$953
+9% in Baltimore, MD
1 Bedroom
$1,073
$1,019
+5% in Baltimore, MD
2 Bedroom
$1,353
$1,287
+5% in Baltimore, MD
3 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,392
+10% in Baltimore, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$219,300
$296,400
+35% in New Orleans, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$59,623
$55,339
+7% in Baltimore, MD
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,070
$47,290
+20% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
38.4 yr
+2.3 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
47.5%
50.5%
+3.0 pp in New Orleans, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.4%
42.0%
+6.6 pp in New Orleans, LA
Avg Commute
29.4 min
22.7 min
+6.7 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,616.7
1,361.1
+16% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
4,202.6
5,089.6
+21% 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
61.4°F
70.6°F
+9.2°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
62.3 in
+19.9 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.30/gal
$3.99/gal
+7% in Baltimore, MD

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$1.25
+38% in Baltimore, MD

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
35.9
14.2
+61% in Baltimore, MD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.19
$16.62
+3% in Baltimore, MD

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 (MD / LA)
6%
5%
+1.0 pp in MD
Income Tax (top rate)
6.50%
3.00%
+3.5 pp in MD

Baltimore vs New Orleans — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or New Orleans?
New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Baltimore, MD's $1,410, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in New Orleans?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $41,000 in New Orleans.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or New Orleans?
Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% 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).