Living Cost Compare
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/mo est.

vs
Tampa

Florida

$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 Tampa, FL. Overall, New Orleans, LA is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tampa, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,339 in New Orleans, LA and $71,302 in Tampa, FL — about 22% higher in Tampa, FL. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

New Orleans, LA
Tampa, FL

Rent

Studio
$953
$1,242
+30% in Tampa, FL
1 Bedroom
$1,019
$1,324
+30% in Tampa, FL
2 Bedroom
$1,287
$1,673
+30% in Tampa, FL
3 Bedroom
$1,392
$1,729
+24% in Tampa, FL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$296,400
$375,300
+27% in Tampa, FL

Income

Median Household Income
$55,339
$71,302
+29% in Tampa, FL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,290
$48,940
+3% in Tampa, FL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.4 yr
35.6 yr
+2.8 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
50.5%
50.2%
+0.3 pp in New Orleans, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
42.0%
44.6%
+2.6 pp in Tampa, FL
Avg Commute
22.7 min
24.7 min
+2.0 min in Tampa, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,361.1
443.4
+67% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
5,089.6
1,473.2
+71% 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
73.4°F
+2.8°F in Tampa, FL
Annual Precipitation
62.3 in
46.3 in
+16.0 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.99/gal
$4.25/gal
+7% in Tampa, FL

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
$2.00
+60% in Tampa, FL

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
14.9
+5% in Tampa, FL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$23.62
+42% in Tampa, FL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.16
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$1.73
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.56
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.61
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / FL)
5%
6%
+1.0 pp in FL
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
None
+3.0 pp in LA

New Orleans vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in New Orleans or Tampa?
New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in New Orleans than in Tampa?
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 Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, New Orleans or Tampa?
New Orleans is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Tampa under Florida's (no state income tax and a 6% 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).