Living Cost Compare
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/mo est.

vs
Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,490/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 $1,490 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, New Orleans, LA is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,339 in New Orleans, LA and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 33% higher in Raleigh, NC. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

New Orleans, LA
Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio
$953
$1,301
+37% in Raleigh, NC
1 Bedroom
$1,019
$1,323
+30% in Raleigh, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,287
$1,462
+14% in Raleigh, NC
3 Bedroom
$1,392
$1,715
+23% in Raleigh, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$296,400
$377,800
+27% in Raleigh, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$55,339
$82,424
+49% in Raleigh, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,290
$51,990
+10% in Raleigh, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.4 yr
34.7 yr
+3.7 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
50.5%
51.2%
+0.7 pp in Raleigh, NC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
42.0%
52.9%
+10.9 pp in Raleigh, NC
Avg Commute
22.7 min
23.4 min
+0.7 min in Raleigh, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,361.1
491.5
+64% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
5,089.6
2,838
+44% 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
60.6°F
+10.0°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
62.3 in
46.0 in
+16.3 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.99/gal
$4.30/gal
+8% in Raleigh, NC

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
$1.25
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
16.0
+13% in Raleigh, NC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$17.50
+5% in Raleigh, NC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.16
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$1.73
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.56
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.61
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / NC)
5%
4.75%
+0.3 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
3.99%
+1.0 pp in NC

New Orleans vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in New Orleans or Raleigh?
New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Raleigh, NC's $1,490, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in New Orleans than in Raleigh?
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 Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, New Orleans or Raleigh?
New Orleans is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).