Living Cost Compare
Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/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 $1,090 in Huntsville, AL versus $1,170 in New Orleans, LA. Overall, Huntsville, AL is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Orleans, LA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $70,778 in Huntsville, AL and $55,339 in New Orleans, LA — about 22% higher in Huntsville, AL. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Huntsville, AL
New Orleans, LA

Rent

Studio
$815
$953
+17% in New Orleans, LA
1 Bedroom
$900
$1,019
+13% in New Orleans, LA
2 Bedroom
$1,080
$1,287
+19% in New Orleans, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,251
$1,392
+11% in New Orleans, LA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$263,100
$296,400
+13% in New Orleans, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$70,778
$55,339
+22% in Huntsville, AL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,740
$47,290
+9% in Huntsville, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
38.4 yr
+2.0 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
58.1%
50.5%
+7.6 pp in Huntsville, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.2%
42.0%
+4.2 pp in Huntsville, AL
Avg Commute
19.3 min
22.7 min
+3.4 min in New Orleans, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
483.2
1,361.1
+182% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
2,395.7
5,089.6
+112% 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
62.1°F
70.6°F
+8.5°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
54.3 in
62.3 in
+7.9 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.62/gal
about equal

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) 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)
16.4
13.5
+18% in Huntsville, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.06
$16.62
+31% in Huntsville, AL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / LA)
4%
5%
+1.0 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
3.00%
+2.0 pp in AL

Huntsville vs New Orleans — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Huntsville or New Orleans?
Huntsville, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,090 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below New Orleans, LA's $1,170, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntsville than in New Orleans?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Huntsville versus $41,000 in New Orleans.
Which has lower taxes, Huntsville or New Orleans?
Huntsville is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).