Living Cost Compare
Cleveland

Ohio

$940/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 $940 in Cleveland, OH versus $1,170 in New Orleans, LA. Overall, Cleveland, OH is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Orleans, LA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $39,187 in Cleveland, OH and $55,339 in New Orleans, LA — about 29% higher in New Orleans, LA. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Cleveland, OH
New Orleans, LA

Rent

Studio
$678
$953
+41% in New Orleans, LA
1 Bedroom
$732
$1,019
+39% in New Orleans, LA
2 Bedroom
$903
$1,287
+43% in New Orleans, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,081
$1,392
+29% in New Orleans, LA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$94,100
$296,400
+215% in New Orleans, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$39,187
$55,339
+41% in New Orleans, LA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,140
$47,290
+6% in Cleveland, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.3 yr
38.4 yr
+2.1 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
41.2%
50.5%
+9.3 pp in New Orleans, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
21.3%
42.0%
+20.7 pp in New Orleans, LA
Avg Commute
22.9 min
22.7 min
+0.2 min in Cleveland, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,582
1,361.1
+14% in Cleveland, OH
Property Crime
4,531.3
5,089.6
+12% 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
36.4 in
62.3 in
+25.9 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.18/gal
$3.62/gal
+13% in Cleveland, OH

Area: Ohio 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)
19.5
14.2
+28% in Cleveland, OH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.83
$16.62
+27% in Cleveland, OH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Cleveland, OH
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in New Orleans, LA
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Cleveland, OH
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Cleveland, OH
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Cleveland, OH
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / LA)
5.75%
5%
+0.8 pp in OH
Income Tax (top rate)
2.75%
3.00%
+0.3 pp in LA

Cleveland vs New Orleans — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or New Orleans?
Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below New Orleans, LA's $1,170, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in New Orleans?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $41,000 in New Orleans.
Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or New Orleans?
Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).