Living Cost Compare
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/mo est.

vs
San Antonio

Texas

$1,270/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 $1,270 in San Antonio, TX. Overall, New Orleans, LA is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Antonio, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,339 in New Orleans, LA and $62,917 in San Antonio, TX — about 12% higher in San Antonio, TX. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

New Orleans, LA
San Antonio, TX

Rent

Studio
$953
$1,052
+10% in San Antonio, TX
1 Bedroom
$1,019
$1,084
+6% in San Antonio, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,287
$1,327
+3% in San Antonio, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,392
$1,545
+11% in San Antonio, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$296,400
$219,700
+26% in New Orleans, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$55,339
$62,917
+14% in San Antonio, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,290
$47,010
+1% in New Orleans, LA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.4 yr
34.6 yr
+3.8 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
50.5%
52.4%
+1.9 pp in San Antonio, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
42.0%
28.7%
+13.3 pp in New Orleans, LA
Avg Commute
22.7 min
24.6 min
+1.9 min in San Antonio, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,361.1
605
+56% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
5,089.6
4,665
+8% 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
68.5°F
+2.1°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
62.3 in
34.9 in
+27.4 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.99/gal
$3.96/gal
+1% in New Orleans, LA

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
$1.30
+4% in San Antonio, TX

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
16.4
+16% in San Antonio, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$24.61
+48% in San Antonio, TX

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 / TX)
5%
6.25%
+1.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
None
+3.0 pp in LA

New Orleans vs San Antonio — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in New Orleans or San Antonio?
New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below San Antonio, TX's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in New Orleans than in San Antonio?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in New Orleans versus $43,000 in San Antonio.
Which has lower taxes, New Orleans or San Antonio?
New Orleans is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); San Antonio under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).