Living Cost Compare
Los Angeles

California

$2,010/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 $2,010 in Los Angeles, CA versus $1,170 in New Orleans, LA. Overall, New Orleans, LA is roughly 42% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Los Angeles, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA and $55,339 in New Orleans, LA — about 31% higher in Los Angeles, 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.

Los Angeles, CA
New Orleans, LA

Rent

Studio
$1,468
$953
+35% in Los Angeles, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,688
$1,019
+40% in Los Angeles, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,148
$1,287
+40% in Los Angeles, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,489
$1,392
+44% in Los Angeles, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$879,500
$296,400
+66% in Los Angeles, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$80,366
$55,339
+31% in Los Angeles, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$47,290
+15% in Los Angeles, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
38.4 yr
+1.5 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
36.3%
50.5%
+14.2 pp in New Orleans, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.8%
42.0%
+4.2 pp in New Orleans, LA
Avg Commute
31.1 min
22.7 min
+8.4 min in Los Angeles, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
730.5
1,361.1
+86% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
1,501.2
5,089.6
+239% 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
67.0°F
70.6°F
+3.6°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
21.2 in
62.3 in
+41.0 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.89/gal
$3.99/gal
+32% in Los Angeles, CA

Area: Los Angeles vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$1.25
+29% in Los Angeles, CA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.4
14.2
+58% in Los Angeles, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$16.62
+20% in Los Angeles, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.16
+5% in Los Angeles, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$1.73
+18% in Los Angeles, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.19
+3% in Los Angeles, CA
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$6.56
+9% in Los Angeles, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$1.90
+11% in Los Angeles, CA
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.61
+17% in Los Angeles, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / LA)
7.25%
5%
+2.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
3.00%
+10.3 pp in CA

Los Angeles vs New Orleans — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Los Angeles or New Orleans?
New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Los Angeles, CA's $2,010, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Los Angeles than in New Orleans?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $68,000 a year in Los Angeles versus $41,000 in New Orleans.
Which has lower taxes, Los Angeles or New Orleans?
Los Angeles 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).