Living Cost Compare
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/mo est.

vs
Rochester

New York

$1,160/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 $1,160 in Rochester, NY. Overall, Rochester, NY is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Orleans, LA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,339 in New Orleans, LA and $46,628 in Rochester, NY — about 16% higher in New Orleans, LA. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

New Orleans, LA
Rochester, NY

Rent

Studio
$953
$750
+21% in New Orleans, LA
1 Bedroom
$1,019
$857
+16% in New Orleans, LA
2 Bedroom
$1,287
$1,114
+13% in New Orleans, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,392
$1,240
+11% in New Orleans, LA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$296,400
$120,600
+59% in New Orleans, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$55,339
$46,628
+16% in New Orleans, LA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,290
$51,210
+8% in Rochester, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.4 yr
33.5 yr
+4.9 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
50.5%
37.2%
+13.3 pp in New Orleans, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
42.0%
29.9%
+12.1 pp in New Orleans, LA
Avg Commute
22.7 min
18.9 min
+3.8 min in New Orleans, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,361.1
690
+49% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
5,089.6
3,533.4
+31% 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
48.2°F
+22.4°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
62.3 in
34.3 in
+28.0 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$4.04/gal
+12% in Rochester, NY

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs New York.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
29.9
+112% in Rochester, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$22.74
+37% in Rochester, NY

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / NY)
5%
4%
+1.0 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
10.90%
+7.9 pp in NY

New Orleans vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in New Orleans or Rochester?
Rochester, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below New Orleans, LA's $1,170, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in New Orleans than in Rochester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in New Orleans versus $34,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, New Orleans or Rochester?
New Orleans is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Rochester under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).