Living Cost Compare
Chicago

Illinois

$1,440/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 $1,440 in Chicago, IL versus $1,170 in New Orleans, LA. Overall, New Orleans, LA is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $75,134 in Chicago, IL and $55,339 in New Orleans, LA — about 26% higher in Chicago, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Chicago, IL
New Orleans, LA

Rent

Studio
$1,186
$953
+20% in Chicago, IL
1 Bedroom
$1,258
$1,019
+19% in Chicago, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,406
$1,287
+8% in Chicago, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,554
$1,392
+10% in Chicago, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$315,200
$296,400
+6% in Chicago, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$75,134
$55,339
+26% in Chicago, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,720
$47,290
+14% in Chicago, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.7 yr
38.4 yr
+2.7 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
45.5%
50.5%
+5.0 pp in New Orleans, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
43.3%
42.0%
+1.3 pp in Chicago, IL
Avg Commute
33.5 min
22.7 min
+10.8 min in Chicago, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
539.8
1,361.1
+152% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
3,489.9
5,089.6
+46% 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
52.7°F
70.6°F
+17.9°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
38.0 in
62.3 in
+24.3 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.82/gal
$3.99/gal
+17% in Chicago, IL

Area: Chicago vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
$1.25
+50% in Chicago, IL

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.9
14.2
+25% in Chicago, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$12.10
$16.62
+37% in New Orleans, LA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.14
$4.16
+1% in New Orleans, LA
Bread (lb)
$1.79
$1.73
+3% in Chicago, IL
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Chicago, IL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.97
$6.56
+6% in Chicago, IL
Chicken (lb)
$2.15
$1.90
+12% in Chicago, IL
Bananas (lb)
$0.63
$0.61
+3% in Chicago, IL

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / LA)
6.25%
5%
+1.3 pp in IL
Income Tax (top rate)
4.95%
3.00%
+2.0 pp in IL

Chicago vs New Orleans — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Chicago or New Orleans?
New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Chicago, IL's $1,440, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Chicago than in New Orleans?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Chicago versus $41,000 in New Orleans.
Which has lower taxes, Chicago or New Orleans?
Chicago is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% 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).