Living Cost Compare
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,470/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 $1,470 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $1,170 in New Orleans, LA. Overall, New Orleans, LA is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Colorado Springs, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO and $55,339 in New Orleans, LA — about 33% higher in Colorado Springs, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Colorado Springs, CO
New Orleans, LA

Rent

Studio
$998
$953
+5% in Colorado Springs, CO
1 Bedroom
$1,305
$1,019
+22% in Colorado Springs, CO
2 Bedroom
$1,504
$1,287
+14% in Colorado Springs, CO
3 Bedroom
$1,881
$1,392
+26% in Colorado Springs, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,700
$296,400
+30% in Colorado Springs, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$83,198
$55,339
+33% in Colorado Springs, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$52,710
$47,290
+10% in Colorado Springs, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.6 yr
38.4 yr
+2.8 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
61.3%
50.5%
+10.8 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.9%
42.0%
+0.1 pp in New Orleans, LA
Avg Commute
22.8 min
22.7 min
+0.1 min in Colorado Springs, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
721.1
1,361.1
+89% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
3,487.9
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
49.0°F
70.6°F
+21.6°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
16.5 in
62.3 in
+45.8 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.54/gal
$3.99/gal
+12% in Colorado Springs, CO

Area: Colorado vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$1.25
+29% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.7
14.2
+15% in Colorado Springs, CO
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.64
$16.62
+43% in New Orleans, LA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.16
+5% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$1.73
+18% in Colorado Springs, CO
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.19
+3% in Colorado Springs, CO
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$6.56
+9% in Colorado Springs, CO
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$1.90
+11% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.61
+17% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / LA)
2.9%
5%
+2.1 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
4.40%
3.00%
+1.4 pp in CO

Colorado Springs vs New Orleans — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Colorado Springs or New Orleans?
New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Colorado Springs, CO's $1,470, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Colorado Springs than in New Orleans?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Colorado Springs versus $41,000 in New Orleans.
Which has lower taxes, Colorado Springs or New Orleans?
Colorado Springs is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).