Living Cost Compare
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/mo est.

vs
Rutland

Vermont

$1,120/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 $1,120 in Rutland, VT. Overall, Rutland, VT is roughly 4% 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 $55,000 in Rutland, VT — about 1% higher in New Orleans, LA. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

New Orleans, LA
Rutland, VT

Rent

Studio
$953
$893
+6% in New Orleans, LA
1 Bedroom
$1,019
$856
+16% in New Orleans, LA
2 Bedroom
$1,287
$1,097
+15% in New Orleans, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,392
$1,207
+13% in New Orleans, LA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$296,400
$176,400
+40% in New Orleans, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$55,339
$55,000
+1% in New Orleans, LA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,290
—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.4 yr
48.5 yr
+10.1 yr in Rutland, VT
Homeownership
50.5%
52.7%
+2.2 pp in Rutland, VT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
42.0%
32.2%
+9.8 pp in New Orleans, LA
Avg Commute
22.7 min
14.7 min
+8.0 min in New Orleans, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,361.1
487.8
+64% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
5,089.6
3,973.3
+22% 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
44.6°F
+26.0°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
62.3 in
40.5 in
+21.8 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Rutland, VT

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)
13.5
24.4
+81% in Rutland, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$26.07
+57% in Rutland, VT

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / VT)
5%
6%
+1.0 pp in VT
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
8.75%
+5.8 pp in VT

New Orleans vs Rutland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in New Orleans or Rutland?
Rutland, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% 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 Rutland?
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 Rutland.
Which has lower taxes, New Orleans or Rutland?
New Orleans is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Rutland under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% 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).