Living Cost Compare
Eugene

Oregon

$1,260/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 $1,260 in Eugene, OR versus $1,170 in New Orleans, LA. Overall, New Orleans, LA is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Eugene, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,836 in Eugene, OR and $55,339 in New Orleans, LA — about 13% higher in Eugene, OR. Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Eugene, OR
New Orleans, LA

Rent

Studio
$1,011
$953
+6% in Eugene, OR
1 Bedroom
$1,080
$1,019
+6% in Eugene, OR
2 Bedroom
$1,411
$1,287
+9% in Eugene, OR
3 Bedroom
$1,674
$1,392
+17% in Eugene, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$435,400
$296,400
+32% in Eugene, OR

Income

Median Household Income
$63,836
$55,339
+13% in Eugene, OR
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,680
$47,290
+5% in Eugene, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.4 yr
38.4 yr
+3.0 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
47.6%
50.5%
+2.9 pp in New Orleans, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.2%
42.0%
+2.2 pp in Eugene, OR
Avg Commute
18.6 min
22.7 min
+4.1 min in New Orleans, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
319.6
1,361.1
+326% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
3,348.9
5,089.6
+52% 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
52.5°F
70.6°F
+18.1°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
46.1 in
62.3 in
+16.2 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.09/gal
$3.62/gal
+29% in Eugene, OR

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) 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)
16.3
14.2
+13% in Eugene, OR
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.59
$16.62
+19% in Eugene, OR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Eugene, OR
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Eugene, OR
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in New Orleans, LA
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Eugene, OR
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Eugene, OR
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Eugene, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OR / LA)
None
5%
+5.0 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
9.90%
3.00%
+6.9 pp in OR

Eugene vs New Orleans — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Eugene or New Orleans?
New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Eugene, OR's $1,260, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Eugene than in New Orleans?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Eugene versus $41,000 in New Orleans.
Which has lower taxes, Eugene or New Orleans?
Eugene is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% 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).