Living Cost Compare
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/mo est.

vs
Phoenix

Arizona

$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 Phoenix, AZ. Overall, New Orleans, LA is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Phoenix, AZ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,339 in New Orleans, LA and $77,041 in Phoenix, AZ — about 28% higher in Phoenix, AZ. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

New Orleans, LA
Phoenix, AZ

Rent

Studio
$953
$1,127
+18% in Phoenix, AZ
1 Bedroom
$1,019
$1,253
+23% in Phoenix, AZ
2 Bedroom
$1,287
$1,493
+16% in Phoenix, AZ
3 Bedroom
$1,392
$1,771
+27% in Phoenix, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$296,400
$381,900
+29% in Phoenix, AZ

Income

Median Household Income
$55,339
$77,041
+39% in Phoenix, AZ
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,290
$51,380
+9% in Phoenix, AZ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.4 yr
34.8 yr
+3.6 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
50.5%
57.1%
+6.6 pp in Phoenix, AZ
Bachelor's+ (25+)
42.0%
32.3%
+9.7 pp in New Orleans, LA
Avg Commute
22.7 min
25.7 min
+3.0 min in Phoenix, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,361.1
799.6
+41% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
5,089.6
2,338.9
+54% 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
75.1°F
+4.5°F in Phoenix, AZ
Annual Precipitation
62.3 in
8.2 in
+54.1 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.99/gal
$5.57/gal
+40% in Phoenix, AZ

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
$2.00
+60% in Phoenix, AZ

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
15.6
+10% in Phoenix, AZ
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$19.69
+18% in Phoenix, AZ

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.37
+5% in Phoenix, AZ
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$2.10
+21% in Phoenix, AZ
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.25
+3% in Phoenix, AZ
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$7.23
+10% in Phoenix, AZ
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.14
+12% in Phoenix, AZ
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.74
+21% in Phoenix, AZ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / AZ)
5%
5.6%
+0.6 pp in AZ
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
2.50%
+0.5 pp in LA

New Orleans vs Phoenix — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in New Orleans or Phoenix?
New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Phoenix, AZ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in New Orleans than in Phoenix?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in New Orleans versus $50,000 in Phoenix.
Which has lower taxes, New Orleans or Phoenix?
New Orleans is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Phoenix under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).