Living Cost Compare
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/mo est.

vs
Omaha

Nebraska

$1,120/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 $1,120 in Omaha, NE. Overall, Omaha, NE is roughly 4% 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 $72,708 in Omaha, NE — about 24% higher in Omaha, NE. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

New Orleans, LA
Omaha, NE

Rent

Studio
$953
$908
+5% in New Orleans, LA
1 Bedroom
$1,019
$984
+3% in New Orleans, LA
2 Bedroom
$1,287
$1,193
+7% in New Orleans, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,392
$1,437
+3% in Omaha, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$296,400
$230,100
+22% in New Orleans, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$55,339
$72,708
+31% in Omaha, NE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,290
$49,660
+5% in Omaha, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.4 yr
35.3 yr
+3.1 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
50.5%
57.7%
+7.2 pp in Omaha, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
42.0%
40.3%
+1.7 pp in New Orleans, LA
Avg Commute
22.7 min
19.6 min
+3.1 min in New Orleans, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,361.1
358.6
+74% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
5,089.6
3,153
+38% 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
51.1°F
+19.5°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
62.3 in
30.6 in
+31.7 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.99/gal
$4.35/gal
+9% in Omaha, NE

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
$1.25
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
13.1
+7% in New Orleans, LA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$12.06
+27% in New Orleans, LA

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
$1.79
+4% in Omaha, NE
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Omaha, NE
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.97
+6% in Omaha, NE
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.15
+13% in Omaha, NE
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.63
+3% in Omaha, NE

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / NE)
5%
5.5%
+0.5 pp in NE
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
4.55%
+1.5 pp in NE

New Orleans vs Omaha — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in New Orleans or Omaha?
Omaha, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% 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 Omaha?
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 Omaha.
Which has lower taxes, New Orleans or Omaha?
New Orleans is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Omaha under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% 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).