Living Cost Compare
Indianapolis

Indiana

$1,140/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 $1,140 in Indianapolis, IN versus $1,170 in New Orleans, LA. Overall, Indianapolis, IN is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Orleans, LA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN and $55,339 in New Orleans, LA — about 12% higher in Indianapolis, IN. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Indianapolis, IN
New Orleans, LA

Rent

Studio
$933
$953
+2% in New Orleans, LA
1 Bedroom
$963
$1,019
+6% in New Orleans, LA
2 Bedroom
$1,132
$1,287
+14% in New Orleans, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,304
$1,392
+7% in New Orleans, LA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$207,000
$296,400
+43% in New Orleans, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$62,995
$55,339
+12% in Indianapolis, IN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,340
$47,290
+4% in Indianapolis, IN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
38.4 yr
+4.3 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
55.3%
50.5%
+4.8 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.2%
42.0%
+7.8 pp in New Orleans, LA
Avg Commute
24.3 min
22.7 min
+1.6 min in Indianapolis, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
936.6
1,361.1
+45% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
3,351.7
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
53.2°F
70.6°F
+17.4°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
62.3 in
+19.9 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.35/gal
$3.99/gal
+8% in Indianapolis, IN

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$1.25
+29% in Indianapolis, IN

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.9
14.2
+21% in Indianapolis, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$12.49
$16.62
+33% in New Orleans, LA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.14
$4.16
+1% in New Orleans, LA
Bread (lb)
$1.79
$1.73
+3% in Indianapolis, IN
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Indianapolis, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.97
$6.56
+6% in Indianapolis, IN
Chicken (lb)
$2.15
$1.90
+12% in Indianapolis, IN
Bananas (lb)
$0.63
$0.61
+3% in Indianapolis, IN

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / LA)
7%
5%
+2.0 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
3.00%
+0.0 pp in LA

Indianapolis vs New Orleans — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Indianapolis or New Orleans?
Indianapolis, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,140 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below New Orleans, LA's $1,170, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Indianapolis than in New Orleans?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Indianapolis versus $41,000 in New Orleans.
Which has lower taxes, Indianapolis or New Orleans?
Indianapolis is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% 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).