Living Cost Compare
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/mo est.

vs
Norfolk

Virginia

$1,230/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 $1,230 in Norfolk, VA. Overall, New Orleans, LA is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Norfolk, VA, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $55,339 in New Orleans, LA and $64,017 in Norfolk, VA — about 14% higher in Norfolk, VA. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

New Orleans, LA
Norfolk, VA

Rent

Studio
$953
$1,102
+16% in Norfolk, VA
1 Bedroom
$1,019
$1,032
+1% in Norfolk, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,287
$1,214
+6% in New Orleans, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,392
$1,602
+15% in Norfolk, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$296,400
$271,900
+8% in New Orleans, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$55,339
$64,017
+16% in Norfolk, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,290
$49,430
+5% in Norfolk, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.4 yr
32.4 yr
+6.0 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
50.5%
45.7%
+4.8 pp in New Orleans, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
42.0%
32.7%
+9.3 pp in New Orleans, LA
Avg Commute
22.7 min
22.9 min
+0.2 min in Norfolk, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,361.1
479.5
+65% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
5,089.6
3,800.7
+25% 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
61.3°F
+9.3°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
62.3 in
44.8 in
+17.5 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.86/gal
+7% in Norfolk, VA

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
17.6
+24% in Norfolk, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$23.66
+42% in Norfolk, VA

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 / VA)
5%
5.3%
+0.3 pp in VA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
5.75%
+2.8 pp in VA

New Orleans vs Norfolk — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in New Orleans or Norfolk?
New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Norfolk, VA's $1,230, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in New Orleans than in Norfolk?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in New Orleans versus $41,000 in Norfolk.
Which has lower taxes, New Orleans or Norfolk?
New Orleans is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Norfolk under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).