Is it cheaper to live in Concord or New Orleans?

New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Concord, NH's $1,410, mainly because of electricity costs.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Concord 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 Concord versus $41,000 in New Orleans.

Which has lower taxes, Concord or New Orleans?

Concord is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); New Orleans under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax).

Concord vs New Orleans Cost of Living 2026

Concord

New Hampshire

$1,410/mo est.

New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,410 in Concord, NH versus $1,170 in New Orleans, LA. Overall, New Orleans, LA is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Concord, NH, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $83,701 in Concord, NH and $55,339 in New Orleans, LA — about 34% higher in Concord, NH. New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Concord, NH

New Orleans, LA

Rent

Studio

$876

$953

+9% in New Orleans, LA

1 Bedroom

$1,134

$1,019

+10% in Concord, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,475

$1,287

+13% in Concord, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,769

$1,392

+21% in Concord, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$323,700

$296,400

+8% in Concord, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$83,701

$55,339

+34% in Concord, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$47,290

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.7 yr

38.4 yr

+2.3 yr in Concord, NH

Homeownership

57.4%

50.5%

+6.9 pp in Concord, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.1%

42.0%

+1.9 pp in New Orleans, LA

Avg Commute

23.2 min

22.7 min

+0.5 min in Concord, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

180.7

1,361.1

+653% in New Orleans, LA

Property Crime

1,251.5

5,089.6

+307% 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

46.4°F

70.6°F

+24.2°F in New Orleans, LA

Annual Precipitation

40.6 in

62.3 in

+21.7 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.62/gal

+8% in Concord, NH

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) 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)

27.0

13.5

+50% in Concord, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.67

$16.62

+23% in Concord, NH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Concord, NH

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.75

+9% in Concord, NH

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in New Orleans, LA

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.45

+6% in Concord, NH

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$1.90

+13% in Concord, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Concord, NH

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NH / LA)

None

+5.0 pp in LA

Income Tax (top rate)

None

3.00%

+3.0 pp in LA

Concord vs New Orleans — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Concord or New Orleans?: New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Concord, NH's $1,410, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Concord 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 Concord versus $41,000 in New Orleans.
Which has lower taxes, Concord or New Orleans?: Concord is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no 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).