Living Cost Compare
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/mo est.

vs
San Diego

California

$2,210/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 $2,210 in San Diego, CA. Overall, New Orleans, LA is roughly 47% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Diego, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,339 in New Orleans, LA and $104,321 in San Diego, CA — about 47% higher in San Diego, CA. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

New Orleans, LA
San Diego, CA

Rent

Studio
$953
$1,737
+82% in San Diego, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,019
$1,883
+85% in San Diego, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,287
$2,348
+82% in San Diego, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,392
$2,818
+102% in San Diego, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$296,400
$848,500
+186% in San Diego, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$55,339
$104,321
+89% in San Diego, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,290
$58,690
+24% in San Diego, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.4 yr
36.0 yr
+2.4 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
50.5%
47.6%
+2.9 pp in New Orleans, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
42.0%
49.9%
+7.9 pp in San Diego, CA
Avg Commute
22.7 min
23.9 min
+1.2 min in San Diego, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,361.1
414.1
+70% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
5,089.6
1,693.1
+67% 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
63.6°F
+7.0°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
62.3 in
10.3 in
+52.0 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.99/gal
$5.91/gal
+48% in San Diego, CA

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs California.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
$2.50
+100% in San Diego, CA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
33.4
+136% in San Diego, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$20.72
+25% in San Diego, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.37
+5% in San Diego, CA
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$2.10
+21% in San Diego, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.25
+3% in San Diego, CA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$7.23
+10% in San Diego, CA
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.14
+12% in San Diego, CA
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.74
+21% in San Diego, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / CA)
5%
7.25%
+2.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
13.30%
+10.3 pp in CA

New Orleans vs San Diego — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in New Orleans or San Diego?
New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 47% below San Diego, CA's $2,210, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in New Orleans than in San Diego?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in New Orleans versus $75,000 in San Diego.
Which has lower taxes, New Orleans or San Diego?
New Orleans is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); San Diego under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).