Living Cost Compare
Louisville

Kentucky

$1,040/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 $1,040 in Louisville, KY versus $1,170 in New Orleans, LA. Overall, Louisville, KY is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Orleans, LA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,731 in Louisville, KY and $55,339 in New Orleans, LA — about 15% higher in Louisville, 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.

Louisville, KY
New Orleans, LA

Rent

Studio
$786
$953
+21% in New Orleans, LA
1 Bedroom
$877
$1,019
+16% in New Orleans, LA
2 Bedroom
$1,096
$1,287
+17% in New Orleans, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,299
$1,392
+7% in New Orleans, LA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$221,500
$296,400
+34% in New Orleans, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$64,731
$55,339
+15% in Louisville, KY
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,370
$47,290
+2% in Louisville, KY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.7 yr
38.4 yr
+0.7 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
60.6%
50.5%
+10.1 pp in Louisville, KY
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.4%
42.0%
+8.6 pp in New Orleans, LA
Avg Commute
22.7 min
22.7 min
about equal

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
761.5
1,361.1
+79% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
3,535.4
5,089.6
+44% 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
58.2°F
70.6°F
+12.4°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
44.9 in
62.3 in
+17.4 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.35/gal
$3.99/gal
+8% in Louisville, KY

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$1.25
+29% in Louisville, KY

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.9
14.2
+5% in Louisville, KY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.12
$16.62
+13% in Louisville, KY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.16
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$1.73
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.56
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.61
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

Louisville vs New Orleans — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Louisville or New Orleans?
Louisville, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below New Orleans, LA's $1,170, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Louisville 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 Louisville versus $41,000 in New Orleans.
Which has lower taxes, Louisville or New Orleans?
Louisville 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).