Living Cost Compare
Lexington

Kentucky

$1,070/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 $1,070 in Lexington, KY versus $1,170 in New Orleans, LA. Overall, Lexington, KY is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Orleans, LA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,631 in Lexington, KY and $55,339 in New Orleans, LA — about 18% higher in Lexington, KY. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Lexington, KY
New Orleans, LA

Rent

Studio
$769
$953
+24% in New Orleans, LA
1 Bedroom
$887
$1,019
+15% in New Orleans, LA
2 Bedroom
$1,119
$1,287
+15% in New Orleans, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,408
$1,392
+1% in Lexington, KY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$272,100
$296,400
+9% in New Orleans, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$67,631
$55,339
+18% in Lexington, KY
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,620
$47,290
+3% in Lexington, KY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.2 yr
38.4 yr
+3.2 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
53.6%
50.5%
+3.1 pp in Lexington, KY
Bachelor's+ (25+)
47.3%
42.0%
+5.3 pp in Lexington, KY
Avg Commute
20.8 min
22.7 min
+1.9 min in New Orleans, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
269.1
1,361.1
+406% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
2,304.4
5,089.6
+121% 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
55.6°F
70.6°F
+15.0°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
45.2 in
62.3 in
+17.1 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in Lexington, KY

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)
15.0
14.2
+6% in Lexington, KY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.48
$16.62
+44% in Lexington, KY

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 (KY / LA)
6%
5%
+1.0 pp in KY
Income Tax (top rate)
3.50%
3.00%
+0.5 pp in KY

Lexington vs New Orleans — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lexington or New Orleans?
Lexington, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below New Orleans, LA's $1,170, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lexington 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 Lexington versus $41,000 in New Orleans.
Which has lower taxes, Lexington or New Orleans?
Lexington is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% 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).