Living Cost Compare
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/mo est.

vs
Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Pittsburgh, PA. Overall, New Orleans, LA is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Pittsburgh, PA, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $55,339 in New Orleans, LA and $64,137 in Pittsburgh, PA — about 14% higher in Pittsburgh, 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
Pittsburgh, PA

Rent

Studio
$953
$1,109
+16% in Pittsburgh, PA
1 Bedroom
$1,019
$1,079
+6% in Pittsburgh, PA
2 Bedroom
$1,287
$1,269
+1% in New Orleans, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,392
$1,450
+4% in Pittsburgh, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$296,400
$193,200
+35% in New Orleans, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$55,339
$64,137
+16% in Pittsburgh, PA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,290
$49,650
+5% in Pittsburgh, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.4 yr
33.5 yr
+4.9 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
50.5%
47.2%
+3.3 pp in New Orleans, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
42.0%
47.8%
+5.8 pp in Pittsburgh, PA
Avg Commute
22.7 min
23.1 min
+0.4 min in Pittsburgh, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,361.1
436
+68% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
5,089.6
2,315.7
+55% 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
51.8°F
+18.8°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
62.3 in
39.3 in
+23.0 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.86/gal
+7% in Pittsburgh, PA

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)
14.2
21.6
+52% in Pittsburgh, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$19.17
+15% in Pittsburgh, PA

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

Groceries

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

Is it cheaper to live in New Orleans or Pittsburgh?
New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Pittsburgh, PA's $1,300, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in New Orleans than in Pittsburgh?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in New Orleans versus $43,000 in Pittsburgh.
Which has lower taxes, New Orleans or Pittsburgh?
New Orleans is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Pittsburgh 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).