Living Cost Compare
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/mo est.

vs
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Newark, DE. Overall, New Orleans, LA is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,339 in New Orleans, LA and $71,373 in Newark, DE — about 22% higher in Newark, DE. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

New Orleans, LA
Newark, DE

Rent

Studio
$953
$1,649
+73% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,019
$1,391
+37% in Newark, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,287
$1,513
+18% in Newark, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,392
$1,916
+38% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$296,400
$357,600
+21% in Newark, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$55,339
$71,373
+29% in Newark, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,290
$54,310
+15% in Newark, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.4 yr
22.0 yr
+16.4 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
50.5%
50.3%
+0.2 pp in New Orleans, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
42.0%
57.5%
+15.5 pp in Newark, DE
Avg Commute
22.7 min
19.6 min
+3.1 min in New Orleans, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,361.1
326.3
+76% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
5,089.6
2,024.6
+60% 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
54.9°F
+15.7°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
62.3 in
43.1 in
+19.2 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Newark, DE

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.5
19.3
+43% in Newark, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$29.73
+79% in Newark, DE

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 (LA / DE)
5%
None
+5.0 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
6.60%
+3.6 pp in DE

New Orleans vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in New Orleans or Newark?
New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in New Orleans than in Newark?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in New Orleans versus $56,000 in Newark.
Which has lower taxes, New Orleans or Newark?
New Orleans is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Newark under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).