Living Cost Compare
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/mo est.

vs
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,400/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 $1,400 in Philadelphia, PA. Overall, New Orleans, LA is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,339 in New Orleans, LA and $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA — about 9% higher in Philadelphia, PA. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

New Orleans, LA
Philadelphia, PA

Rent

Studio
$953
$1,126
+18% in Philadelphia, PA
1 Bedroom
$1,019
$1,189
+17% in Philadelphia, PA
2 Bedroom
$1,287
$1,394
+8% in Philadelphia, PA
3 Bedroom
$1,392
$1,406
+1% in Philadelphia, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$296,400
$232,400
+22% in New Orleans, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$55,339
$60,698
+10% in Philadelphia, PA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,290
$54,310
+15% in Philadelphia, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.4 yr
35.1 yr
+3.3 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
50.5%
52.3%
+1.8 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
42.0%
34.6%
+7.4 pp in New Orleans, LA
Avg Commute
22.7 min
32.0 min
+9.3 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,361.1
916.8
+33% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
5,089.6
4,614.3
+9% 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
57.1°F
+13.5°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
62.3 in
48.5 in
+13.8 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.99/gal
$4.30/gal
+8% in Philadelphia, PA

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
$2.50
+100% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
20.9
+48% in Philadelphia, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$16.67
+0% in Philadelphia, PA

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
$1.92
+11% in Philadelphia, PA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.25
+3% in Philadelphia, PA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.90
+5% in Philadelphia, PA
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.02
+6% in Philadelphia, PA
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.68
+11% in Philadelphia, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / PA)
5%
6%
+1.0 pp in PA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
3.07%
+0.1 pp in PA

New Orleans vs Philadelphia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in New Orleans or Philadelphia?
New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,400, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in New Orleans than in Philadelphia?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in New Orleans versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.
Which has lower taxes, New Orleans or Philadelphia?
New Orleans is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% 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).