Living Cost Compare
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/mo est.

vs
Spokane

Washington

$1,070/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 $1,070 in Spokane, WA. Overall, Spokane, WA is roughly 9% 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 $65,745 in Spokane, WA — about 16% higher in Spokane, 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
Spokane, WA

Rent

Studio
$953
$884
+7% in New Orleans, LA
1 Bedroom
$1,019
$903
+11% in New Orleans, LA
2 Bedroom
$1,287
$1,192
+7% in New Orleans, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,392
$1,442
+4% in Spokane, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$296,400
$326,200
+10% in Spokane, WA

Income

Median Household Income
$55,339
$65,745
+19% in Spokane, WA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,290
$54,660
+16% in Spokane, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.4 yr
37.2 yr
+1.2 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
50.5%
58.3%
+7.8 pp in Spokane, WA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
42.0%
32.6%
+9.4 pp in New Orleans, LA
Avg Commute
22.7 min
21.2 min
+1.5 min in New Orleans, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,361.1
683.6
+50% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
5,089.6
4,931.8
+3% 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
48.9°F
+21.7°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
62.3 in
17.8 in
+44.5 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$5.12/gal
+41% in Spokane, WA

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Washington.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
14.9
+6% in Spokane, WA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$20.41
+23% in Spokane, WA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in Spokane, WA
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in Spokane, WA
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in New Orleans, LA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in Spokane, WA
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in Spokane, WA
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Spokane, 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 Spokane — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in New Orleans or Spokane?
Spokane, WA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% 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 Spokane?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in New Orleans versus $36,000 in Spokane.
Which has lower taxes, New Orleans or Spokane?
New Orleans is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Spokane 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).