Living Cost Compare
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/mo est.

vs
Providence

Rhode Island

$1,310/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 $1,310 in Providence, RI. Overall, New Orleans, LA is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Providence, RI, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $55,339 in New Orleans, LA and $66,772 in Providence, RI — about 17% higher in Providence, RI. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

New Orleans, LA
Providence, RI

Rent

Studio
$953
$1,116
+17% in Providence, RI
1 Bedroom
$1,019
$1,030
+1% in Providence, RI
2 Bedroom
$1,287
$1,323
+3% in Providence, RI
3 Bedroom
$1,392
$1,627
+17% in Providence, RI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$296,400
$322,800
+9% in Providence, RI

Income

Median Household Income
$55,339
$66,772
+21% in Providence, RI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,290
$53,680
+14% in Providence, RI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.4 yr
32.9 yr
+5.5 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
50.5%
41.2%
+9.3 pp in New Orleans, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
42.0%
34.7%
+7.3 pp in New Orleans, LA
Avg Commute
22.7 min
25.0 min
+2.3 min in Providence, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,361.1
282.4
+79% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
5,089.6
1,665.6
+67% 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
51.6°F
+19.0°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
62.3 in
47.2 in
+15.1 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.86/gal
+7% in Providence, RI

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
29.5
+108% in Providence, RI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$16.06
+3% in New Orleans, LA

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / RI)
5%
7%
+2.0 pp in RI
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
5.99%
+3.0 pp in RI

New Orleans vs Providence — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in New Orleans or Providence?
New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Providence, RI's $1,310, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in New Orleans than in Providence?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in New Orleans versus $41,000 in Providence.
Which has lower taxes, New Orleans or Providence?
New Orleans is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Providence under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% 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).