Living Cost Compare
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/mo est.

vs
Oklahoma City

Oklahoma

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Oklahoma City, OK. Overall, Oklahoma City, OK is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Orleans, LA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,339 in New Orleans, LA and $66,702 in Oklahoma City, OK — about 17% higher in Oklahoma City, OK. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

New Orleans, LA
Oklahoma City, OK

Rent

Studio
$953
$795
+17% in New Orleans, LA
1 Bedroom
$1,019
$882
+13% in New Orleans, LA
2 Bedroom
$1,287
$1,085
+16% in New Orleans, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,392
$1,356
+3% in New Orleans, LA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$296,400
$215,100
+27% in New Orleans, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$55,339
$66,702
+21% in Oklahoma City, OK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,290
$47,230
+0% in New Orleans, LA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.4 yr
35.0 yr
+3.4 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
50.5%
59.1%
+8.6 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
42.0%
34.0%
+8.0 pp in New Orleans, LA
Avg Commute
22.7 min
22.2 min
+0.5 min in New Orleans, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,361.1
685.6
+50% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
5,089.6
2,928.9
+42% 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
61.5°F
+9.1°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
62.3 in
36.5 in
+25.8 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.99/gal
$4.35/gal
+9% in Oklahoma City, OK

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
$1.75
+40% in Oklahoma City, OK

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
13.6
+4% in New Orleans, LA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$15.95
+4% in New Orleans, LA

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 (LA / OK)
5%
4.5%
+0.5 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
4.50%
+1.5 pp in OK

New Orleans vs Oklahoma City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in New Orleans or Oklahoma City?
Oklahoma City, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below New Orleans, LA's $1,170, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in New Orleans than in Oklahoma 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 $35,000 in Oklahoma City.
Which has lower taxes, New Orleans or Oklahoma City?
New Orleans is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Oklahoma City under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% 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).