Living Cost Compare
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/mo est.

vs
Portland

Maine

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Portland, ME. Overall, New Orleans, LA is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, ME, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,339 in New Orleans, LA and $76,174 in Portland, ME — about 27% higher in Portland, ME. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

New Orleans, LA
Portland, ME

Rent

Studio
$953
$1,038
+9% in Portland, ME
1 Bedroom
$1,019
$1,331
+31% in Portland, ME
2 Bedroom
$1,287
$1,664
+29% in Portland, ME
3 Bedroom
$1,392
$1,919
+38% in Portland, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$296,400
$452,600
+53% in Portland, ME

Income

Median Household Income
$55,339
$76,174
+38% in Portland, ME
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,290
$56,960
+20% in Portland, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.4 yr
37.5 yr
+0.9 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
50.5%
46.7%
+3.8 pp in New Orleans, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
42.0%
59.2%
+17.2 pp in Portland, ME
Avg Commute
22.7 min
19.9 min
+2.8 min in New Orleans, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,361.1
272.7
+80% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
5,089.6
2,513.3
+51% 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
46.5°F
+24.1°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
62.3 in
47.3 in
+15.0 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.86/gal
+7% in Portland, ME

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
28.6
+102% in Portland, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$21.00
+26% in Portland, ME

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / ME)
5%
5.5%
+0.5 pp in ME
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
7.15%
+4.2 pp in ME

New Orleans vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in New Orleans or Portland?
New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Portland, ME's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in New Orleans than in Portland?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in New Orleans versus $53,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, New Orleans or Portland?
New Orleans is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Portland under Maine's (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% 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).