Living Cost Compare
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/mo est.

vs
Wilmington

Delaware

$1,230/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 $1,230 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, New Orleans, LA is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Wilmington, DE, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $55,339 in New Orleans, LA and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

New Orleans, LA
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$953
$1,103
+16% in Wilmington, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,019
$1,024
+0% in Wilmington, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,287
$1,213
+6% in New Orleans, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,392
$1,394
+0% in Wilmington, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$296,400
$224,500
+24% in New Orleans, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$55,339
$55,269
+0% in New Orleans, LA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,290
$54,310
+15% in Wilmington, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.4 yr
37.0 yr
+1.4 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
50.5%
46.0%
+4.5 pp in New Orleans, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
42.0%
33.1%
+8.9 pp in New Orleans, LA
Avg Commute
22.7 min
23.0 min
+0.3 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,361.1
1,138.2
+16% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
5,089.6
3,182.4
+37% 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
54.9°F
+15.7°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
62.3 in
43.1 in
+19.2 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.86/gal
+7% in Wilmington, DE

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
19.4
+37% in Wilmington, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$22.51
+35% in Wilmington, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / DE)
5%
None
+5.0 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
6.60%
+3.6 pp in DE

New Orleans vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in New Orleans or Wilmington?
New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Wilmington, DE's $1,230, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in New Orleans than in Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in New Orleans versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, New Orleans or Wilmington?
New Orleans is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).