Is it cheaper to live in New Orleans or Reno?

New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in New Orleans than in Reno?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in New Orleans versus $48,000 in Reno.

Which has lower taxes, New Orleans or Reno?

New Orleans is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax).

New Orleans vs Reno Cost of Living 2026

New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/mo est.

Reno

Nevada

$1,350/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 $1,350 in Reno, NV. Overall, New Orleans, LA is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Reno, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,339 in New Orleans, LA and $78,448 in Reno, NV — about 29% higher in Reno, NV. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

New Orleans, LA

Reno, NV

Rent

Studio

$953

$964

+1% in Reno, NV

1 Bedroom

$1,019

$1,206

+18% in Reno, NV

2 Bedroom

$1,287

$1,518

+18% in Reno, NV

3 Bedroom

$1,392

$1,885

+35% in Reno, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$296,400

$498,600

+68% in Reno, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$55,339

$78,448

+42% in Reno, NV

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,290

$49,660

+5% in Reno, NV

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.4 yr

37.3 yr

+1.1 yr in New Orleans, LA

Homeownership

50.5%

49.4%

+1.1 pp in New Orleans, LA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

42.0%

35.7%

+6.3 pp in New Orleans, LA

Avg Commute

22.7 min

20.6 min

+2.1 min in New Orleans, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,361.1

528.9

+61% in New Orleans, LA

Property Crime

5,089.6

2,489.3

+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

53.8°F

+16.8°F in New Orleans, LA

Annual Precipitation

62.3 in

7.4 in

+54.9 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$5.09/gal

+40% in Reno, NV

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.25

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.2

13.6

+4% in New Orleans, LA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$16.62

$12.09

+27% in New Orleans, LA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Reno, NV

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Reno, NV

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in New Orleans, LA

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Reno, NV

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Reno, NV

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Reno, NV

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / NV)

6.85%

+1.8 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

3.00%

None

+3.0 pp in LA

New Orleans vs Reno — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in New Orleans or Reno?: New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in New Orleans than in Reno?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in New Orleans versus $48,000 in Reno.
Which has lower taxes, New Orleans or Reno?: New Orleans is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).