Living Cost Compare
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/mo est.

vs
San Francisco

California

$2,750/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 $2,750 in San Francisco, CA. Overall, New Orleans, LA is roughly 57% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Francisco, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,339 in New Orleans, LA and $141,446 in San Francisco, CA — about 61% higher in San Francisco, 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 Francisco, CA

Rent

Studio
$953
$1,560
+64% in San Francisco, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,019
$2,425
+138% in San Francisco, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,287
$2,982
+132% in San Francisco, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,392
$3,269
+135% in San Francisco, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$296,400
$1,380,500
+366% in San Francisco, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$55,339
$141,446
+156% in San Francisco, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,290
$74,260
+57% in San Francisco, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.4 yr
39.7 yr
+1.3 yr in San Francisco, CA
Homeownership
50.5%
38.5%
+12.0 pp in New Orleans, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
42.0%
60.1%
+18.1 pp in San Francisco, CA
Avg Commute
22.7 min
31.2 min
+8.5 min in San Francisco, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,361.1
596.5
+56% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
5,089.6
3,962.2
+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
57.3°F
+13.3°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
62.3 in
23.6 in
+38.6 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.99/gal
$6.05/gal
+52% in San Francisco, CA

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs San Francisco.

Public Transit

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

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

Utilities

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

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

Groceries

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

Is it cheaper to live in New Orleans or San Francisco?
New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 57% below San Francisco, CA's $2,750, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in New Orleans than in San Francisco?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in New Orleans versus $97,000 in San Francisco.
Which has lower taxes, New Orleans or San Francisco?
New Orleans is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); San Francisco 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).