Living Cost Compare
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/mo est.

vs
New York City

New York

$1,990/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,170 in New Orleans, LA versus $1,990 in New York City, NY. Overall, New Orleans, LA is roughly 41% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New York City, NY, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,339 in New Orleans, LA and $79,713 in New York City, NY — about 31% higher in New York City, NY. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

New Orleans, LA
New York City, NY

Rent

Studio
$953
$1,633
+71% in New York City, NY
1 Bedroom
$1,019
$1,705
+67% in New York City, NY
2 Bedroom
$1,287
$1,781
+38% in New York City, NY
3 Bedroom
$1,392
$2,065
+48% in New York City, NY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$296,400
$751,700
+154% in New York City, NY

Income

Median Household Income
$55,339
$79,713
+44% in New York City, NY
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,290
$61,430
+30% in New York City, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.4 yr
38.0 yr
+0.4 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
50.5%
32.8%
+17.7 pp in New Orleans, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
42.0%
41.0%
+1.0 pp in New Orleans, LA
Avg Commute
22.7 min
40.6 min
+17.9 min in New York City, NY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,361.1
690.9
+49% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
5,089.6
2,413.5
+53% 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
70.6°F
55.0°F
+15.6°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
62.3 in
49.9 in
+12.4 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.99/gal
$4.44/gal
+11% in New York City, NY

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs New York City.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
$3.00
+140% in New York City, NY

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
28.6
+102% in New York City, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$18.90
+14% in New York City, NY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.14
+1% in New Orleans, LA
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$1.92
+11% in New York City, NY
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.25
+3% in New York City, NY
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.90
+5% in New York City, NY
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.02
+6% in New York City, NY
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.68
+11% in New York City, NY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / NY)
5%
4%
+1.0 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
10.90%
+7.9 pp in NY

New Orleans vs New York City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in New Orleans or New York City?
New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 41% below New York City, NY's $1,990, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in New Orleans than in New York City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in New Orleans versus $68,000 in New York City.
Which has lower taxes, New Orleans or New York City?
New Orleans is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); New York City under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).