Living Cost Compare
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/mo est.

vs
Seattle

Washington

$2,020/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 $2,020 in Seattle, WA. Overall, New Orleans, LA is roughly 42% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,339 in New Orleans, LA and $121,984 in Seattle, WA — about 55% higher in Seattle, WA. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

New Orleans, LA
Seattle, WA

Rent

Studio
$953
$1,638
+72% in Seattle, WA
1 Bedroom
$1,019
$1,858
+82% in Seattle, WA
2 Bedroom
$1,287
$2,359
+83% in Seattle, WA
3 Bedroom
$1,392
$2,918
+110% in Seattle, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$296,400
$912,100
+208% in Seattle, WA

Income

Median Household Income
$55,339
$121,984
+120% in Seattle, WA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,290
$72,610
+54% in Seattle, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.4 yr
35.5 yr
+2.9 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
50.5%
44.2%
+6.3 pp in New Orleans, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
42.0%
67.5%
+25.5 pp in Seattle, WA
Avg Commute
22.7 min
26.6 min
+3.9 min in Seattle, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,361.1
787.3
+42% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
5,089.6
5,107.9
+0% in Seattle, WA

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
53.5°F
+17.1°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
62.3 in
37.7 in
+24.6 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.99/gal
$5.77/gal
+45% in Seattle, WA

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Seattle.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
$2.75
+120% in Seattle, WA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
14.4
+2% in Seattle, WA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$17.32
+4% in Seattle, WA

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / WA)
5%
6.5%
+1.5 pp in WA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
None
+3.0 pp in LA

New Orleans vs Seattle — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in New Orleans or Seattle?
New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Seattle, WA's $2,020, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in New Orleans than in Seattle?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in New Orleans versus $74,000 in Seattle.
Which has lower taxes, New Orleans or Seattle?
New Orleans is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).