Living Cost Compare
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/mo est.

vs
Virginia Beach

Virginia

$1,540/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 $1,540 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, New Orleans, LA is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,339 in New Orleans, LA and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 39% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

New Orleans, LA
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$953
$1,496
+57% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$1,019
$1,357
+33% in Virginia Beach, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,287
$1,559
+21% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,392
$1,857
+33% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$296,400
$366,300
+24% in Virginia Beach, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$55,339
$90,685
+64% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,290
$49,430
+5% in Virginia Beach, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.4 yr
37.4 yr
+1.0 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
50.5%
64.9%
+14.4 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
42.0%
40.4%
+1.6 pp in New Orleans, LA
Avg Commute
22.7 min
23.2 min
+0.5 min in Virginia Beach, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,361.1
96.7
+93% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
5,089.6
1,664.3
+67% 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
59.9°F
+10.7°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
62.3 in
44.3 in
+18.0 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.99/gal
$4.30/gal
+8% in Virginia Beach, VA

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
$2.00
+60% in Virginia Beach, VA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
17.1
+20% in Virginia Beach, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$18.75
+13% in Virginia Beach, VA

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 / VA)
5%
5.3%
+0.3 pp in VA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
5.75%
+2.8 pp in VA

New Orleans vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in New Orleans or Virginia Beach?
New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,540, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in New Orleans than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in New Orleans versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, New Orleans or Virginia Beach?
New Orleans is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Virginia Beach under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).