Living Cost Compare
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/mo est.

vs
Tacoma

Washington

$1,500/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 $1,500 in Tacoma, WA. Overall, New Orleans, LA is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tacoma, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,339 in New Orleans, LA and $83,857 in Tacoma, WA — about 34% higher in Tacoma, 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
Tacoma, WA

Rent

Studio
$953
$1,178
+24% in Tacoma, WA
1 Bedroom
$1,019
$1,332
+31% in Tacoma, WA
2 Bedroom
$1,287
$1,693
+32% in Tacoma, WA
3 Bedroom
$1,392
$2,094
+50% in Tacoma, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$296,400
$454,600
+53% in Tacoma, WA

Income

Median Household Income
$55,339
$83,857
+52% in Tacoma, WA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,290
$72,610
+54% in Tacoma, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.4 yr
37.3 yr
+1.1 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
50.5%
56.5%
+6.0 pp in Tacoma, WA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
42.0%
33.5%
+8.5 pp in New Orleans, LA
Avg Commute
22.7 min
29.0 min
+6.3 min in Tacoma, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,361.1
1,064.4
+22% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
5,089.6
5,695.2
+12% in Tacoma, 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
52.1°F
+18.5°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
62.3 in
43.0 in
+19.3 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$5.12/gal
+41% in Tacoma, 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 Tacoma, WA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$20.41
+23% in Tacoma, WA

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

Groceries

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

Is it cheaper to live in New Orleans or Tacoma?
New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Tacoma, WA's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in New Orleans than in Tacoma?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in New Orleans versus $53,000 in Tacoma.
Which has lower taxes, New Orleans or Tacoma?
New Orleans is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Tacoma 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).