Is it cheaper to live in Fresno or New Orleans?

New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Fresno, CA's $1,370, mainly because of electricity costs.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Fresno than in New Orleans?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Fresno versus $41,000 in New Orleans.

Which has lower taxes, Fresno or New Orleans?

Fresno is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); New Orleans under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax).

Fresno vs New Orleans Cost of Living 2026

Fresno

California

$1,370/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 $1,370 in Fresno, CA versus $1,170 in New Orleans, LA. Overall, New Orleans, LA is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fresno, CA, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $66,804 in Fresno, CA and $55,339 in New Orleans, LA — about 17% higher in Fresno, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Fresno, CA

New Orleans, LA

Rent

Studio

$1,072

$953

+11% in Fresno, CA

1 Bedroom

$1,042

$1,019

+2% in Fresno, CA

2 Bedroom

$1,293

$1,287

+0% in Fresno, CA

3 Bedroom

$1,688

$1,392

+18% in Fresno, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$348,500

$296,400

+15% in Fresno, CA

Income

Median Household Income

$66,804

$55,339

+17% in Fresno, CA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,910

$47,290

+1% in New Orleans, LA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

32.4 yr

38.4 yr

+6.0 yr in New Orleans, LA

Homeownership

49.7%

50.5%

+0.8 pp in New Orleans, LA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

24.9%

42.0%

+17.1 pp in New Orleans, LA

Avg Commute

22.3 min

22.7 min

+0.4 min in New Orleans, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

741.9

1,361.1

+83% in New Orleans, LA

Property Crime

3,334.2

5,089.6

+53% 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

64.4°F

70.6°F

+6.2°F in New Orleans, LA

Annual Precipitation

11.5 in

62.3 in

+50.8 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.91/gal

$3.99/gal

+33% in Fresno, CA

Area: California vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.25

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

33.4

14.2

+58% in Fresno, CA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.72

$16.62

+20% in Fresno, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.37

$4.16

+5% in Fresno, CA

Bread (lb)

$2.10

$1.73

+18% in Fresno, CA

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

$2.19

+3% in Fresno, CA

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

$6.56

+9% in Fresno, CA

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

$1.90

+11% in Fresno, CA

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

$0.61

+17% in Fresno, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / LA)

7.25%

+2.3 pp in CA

Income Tax (top rate)

13.30%

3.00%

+10.3 pp in CA

Fresno vs New Orleans — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fresno or New Orleans?: New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Fresno, CA's $1,370, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fresno than in New Orleans?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Fresno versus $41,000 in New Orleans.
Which has lower taxes, Fresno or New Orleans?: Fresno is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).