Living Cost Compare
Des Moines

Iowa

$1,020/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 $1,020 in Des Moines, IA versus $1,170 in New Orleans, LA. Overall, Des Moines, IA is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Orleans, LA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,966 in Des Moines, IA and $55,339 in New Orleans, LA — about 13% higher in Des Moines, IA. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Des Moines, IA
New Orleans, LA

Rent

Studio
$870
$953
+10% in New Orleans, LA
1 Bedroom
$870
$1,019
+17% in New Orleans, LA
2 Bedroom
$1,099
$1,287
+17% in New Orleans, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,334
$1,392
+4% in New Orleans, LA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$183,700
$296,400
+61% in New Orleans, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$63,966
$55,339
+13% in Des Moines, IA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,820
$47,290
+9% in Des Moines, IA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.6 yr
38.4 yr
+3.8 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
60.4%
50.5%
+9.9 pp in Des Moines, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
29.0%
42.0%
+13.0 pp in New Orleans, LA
Avg Commute
19.6 min
22.7 min
+3.1 min in New Orleans, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
707.3
1,361.1
+92% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
3,156.6
5,089.6
+61% 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
50.9°F
70.6°F
+19.7°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
36.0 in
62.3 in
+26.3 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in Des Moines, IA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) 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)
14.1
14.2
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.72
$16.62
+6% in New Orleans, LA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Des Moines, IA
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in New Orleans, LA
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Des Moines, IA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Des Moines, IA
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Des Moines, IA
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 (IA / LA)
6%
5%
+1.0 pp in IA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
3.00%
+0.8 pp in IA

Des Moines vs New Orleans — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Des Moines or New Orleans?
Des Moines, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below New Orleans, LA's $1,170, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Des Moines than in New Orleans?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Des Moines versus $41,000 in New Orleans.
Which has lower taxes, Des Moines or New Orleans?
Des Moines is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% 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).