Living Cost Compare
Boise

Idaho

$1,260/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 $1,260 in Boise, ID versus $1,170 in New Orleans, LA. Overall, New Orleans, LA is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Boise, ID, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,308 in Boise, ID and $55,339 in New Orleans, LA — about 32% higher in Boise, ID. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Boise, ID
New Orleans, LA

Rent

Studio
$1,021
$953
+7% in Boise, ID
1 Bedroom
$1,133
$1,019
+10% in Boise, ID
2 Bedroom
$1,342
$1,287
+4% in Boise, ID
3 Bedroom
$1,749
$1,392
+20% in Boise, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$456,000
$296,400
+35% in Boise, ID

Income

Median Household Income
$81,308
$55,339
+32% in Boise, ID
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,100
$47,290
+4% in Boise, ID

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.2 yr
38.4 yr
+0.2 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
63.0%
50.5%
+12.5 pp in Boise, ID
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.6%
42.0%
+4.6 pp in Boise, ID
Avg Commute
19.1 min
22.7 min
+3.6 min in New Orleans, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
301
1,361.1
+352% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
1,135.1
5,089.6
+348% 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
52.5°F
70.6°F
+18.1°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
11.7 in
62.3 in
+50.6 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.29/gal
$3.62/gal
+15% in Boise, ID

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
12.3
14.2
+15% in New Orleans, LA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$10.82
$16.62
+54% in New Orleans, LA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Boise, ID
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Boise, ID
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in New Orleans, LA
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Boise, ID
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Boise, ID
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Boise, ID

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ID / LA)
6%
5%
+1.0 pp in ID
Income Tax (top rate)
5.30%
3.00%
+2.3 pp in ID

Boise vs New Orleans — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Boise or New Orleans?
New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Boise, ID's $1,260, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Boise than in New Orleans?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Boise versus $41,000 in New Orleans.
Which has lower taxes, Boise or New Orleans?
Boise is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% 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).