Living Cost Compare
Boston

Massachusetts

$2,290/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 $2,290 in Boston, MA versus $1,170 in New Orleans, LA. Overall, New Orleans, LA is roughly 49% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Boston, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $94,755 in Boston, MA and $55,339 in New Orleans, LA — about 42% higher in Boston, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Boston, MA
New Orleans, LA

Rent

Studio
$1,890
$953
+50% in Boston, MA
1 Bedroom
$1,978
$1,019
+48% in Boston, MA
2 Bedroom
$2,155
$1,287
+40% in Boston, MA
3 Bedroom
$2,234
$1,392
+38% in Boston, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$710,400
$296,400
+58% in Boston, MA

Income

Median Household Income
$94,755
$55,339
+42% in Boston, MA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$66,620
$47,290
+29% in Boston, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.2 yr
38.4 yr
+5.2 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
35.4%
50.5%
+15.1 pp in New Orleans, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
54.1%
42.0%
+12.1 pp in Boston, MA
Avg Commute
30.2 min
22.7 min
+7.5 min in Boston, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
630.2
1,361.1
+116% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
2,030.8
5,089.6
+151% 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
51.5°F
70.6°F
+19.1°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
43.8 in
62.3 in
+18.5 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.95/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in Boston, MA

Area: Massachusetts 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)
28.8
14.2
+51% in Boston, MA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.39
$16.62
+47% in Boston, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Boston, MA
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in Boston, MA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in New Orleans, LA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in Boston, MA
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in Boston, MA
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Boston, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MA / LA)
6.25%
5%
+1.3 pp in MA
Income Tax (top rate)
9.00%
3.00%
+6.0 pp in MA

Boston vs New Orleans — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Boston or New Orleans?
New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 49% below Boston, MA's $2,290, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Boston than in New Orleans?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $79,000 a year in Boston versus $41,000 in New Orleans.
Which has lower taxes, Boston or New Orleans?
Boston is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).