Living Cost Compare
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,130/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 $2,130 in Washington, DC. Overall, New Orleans, LA is roughly 45% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,339 in New Orleans, LA and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 48% higher in Washington, DC. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

New Orleans, LA
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$953
$1,763
+85% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$1,019
$1,885
+85% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$1,287
$1,949
+51% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,392
$2,249
+62% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$296,400
$724,600
+144% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$55,339
$106,287
+92% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,290
$71,060
+50% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.4 yr
34.9 yr
+3.5 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
50.5%
41.1%
+9.4 pp in New Orleans, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
42.0%
63.6%
+21.6 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
22.7 min
30.3 min
+7.6 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,361.1
936
+31% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
5,089.6
3,627.1
+29% 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
58.2°F
+12.4°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
62.3 in
39.7 in
+22.5 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.99/gal
$4.30/gal
+8% in Washington, DC

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
$2.00
+60% in Washington, DC

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
25.0
+77% in Washington, DC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$18.01
+8% in Washington, DC

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 / DC)
5%
6%
+1.0 pp in DC
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
10.75%
+7.8 pp in DC

New Orleans vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in New Orleans or Washington?
New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 45% below Washington, DC's $2,130, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in New Orleans than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in New Orleans versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, New Orleans or Washington?
New Orleans is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% 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).