Living Cost Compare
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/mo est.

vs
Paterson

New Jersey

$1,430/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 $1,430 in Paterson, NJ. Overall, New Orleans, LA is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Paterson, NJ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,339 in New Orleans, LA and $53,766 in Paterson, NJ — about 3% 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
Paterson, NJ

Rent

Studio
$953
$786
+18% in New Orleans, LA
1 Bedroom
$1,019
$1,183
+16% in Paterson, NJ
2 Bedroom
$1,287
$1,468
+14% in Paterson, NJ
3 Bedroom
$1,392
$1,729
+24% in Paterson, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$296,400
$335,400
+13% in Paterson, NJ

Income

Median Household Income
$55,339
$53,766
+3% in New Orleans, LA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,290
$61,430
+30% in Paterson, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.4 yr
33.3 yr
+5.1 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
50.5%
26.2%
+24.3 pp in New Orleans, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
42.0%
12.5%
+29.5 pp in New Orleans, LA
Avg Commute
22.7 min
23.1 min
+0.4 min in Paterson, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,361.1
1,010.1
+26% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
5,089.6
2,391.4
+53% 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
52.2°F
+18.4°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
62.3 in
49.0 in
+13.2 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Paterson, 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)
13.5
24.9
+85% in Paterson, NJ
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$17.68
+6% in Paterson, NJ

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

Groceries

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

Is it cheaper to live in New Orleans or Paterson?
New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Paterson, NJ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in New Orleans than in Paterson?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in New Orleans versus $47,000 in Paterson.
Which has lower taxes, New Orleans or Paterson?
New Orleans is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Paterson 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).