Living Cost Compare
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/mo est.

vs
Newark

New Jersey

$1,210/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 $1,210 in Newark, NJ. Overall, New Orleans, LA is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, NJ, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $55,339 in New Orleans, LA and $48,416 in Newark, NJ — about 13% higher in New Orleans, LA. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.

New Orleans, LA
Newark, NJ

Rent

Studio
$953
$1,111
+17% in Newark, NJ
1 Bedroom
$1,019
$978
+4% in New Orleans, LA
2 Bedroom
$1,287
$1,386
+8% in Newark, NJ
3 Bedroom
$1,392
$1,695
+22% in Newark, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$296,400
$337,800
+14% in Newark, NJ

Income

Median Household Income
$55,339
$48,416
+13% in New Orleans, LA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,290
$61,430
+30% in Newark, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.4 yr
34.8 yr
+3.6 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
50.5%
24.1%
+26.4 pp in New Orleans, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
42.0%
17.4%
+24.6 pp in New Orleans, LA
Avg Commute
22.7 min
33.2 min
+10.5 min in Newark, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,361.1
582.5
+57% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
5,089.6
1,961.8
+61% 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
46.3 in
+16.0 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.86/gal
+7% in Newark, NJ

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)
14.2
23.3
+64% in Newark, NJ
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$15.93
+4% in New Orleans, LA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Newark, NJ
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in Newark, NJ
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in New Orleans, LA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in Newark, NJ
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in Newark, NJ
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Newark, NJ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / NJ)
5%
6.625%
+1.6 pp in NJ
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
10.75%
+7.8 pp in NJ

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 3% below Newark, NJ's $1,210, mainly because of electricity costs.
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 $39,000 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 New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).