Cost of living in New Orleans: rent, homes and salary
The cost of living in New Orleans is 7.4% below the US average. BEA's regional price parity (RPP) figure for 2024 puts the New Orleans, LA metro area at 92.6, with the US at 100, while housing alone stands at 86.0.
- Level of prices
- 92.6US = 100, BEA 2024
- Price level for housing
- 86.0 for rents, US = 100.
Cost of living index for New Orleans
A regional price parity compares the cost of one identical basket of goods and services in a place against the US average, set at 100. The New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area includes New Orleans, and BEA prices it as one area. Utilities sit furthest from the US average, at 71.2, and that is 28.8% below the US.
| Price level, US = 100 | New Orleans, LA metro | Louisiana | Metro against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 92.6 | 88.2 | −7.4% |
| Goods | 93.7 | 93.7 | −6.3% |
| Housing (rents) | 86.0 | 63.1 | −14.0% |
| Utilities | 71.2 | 71.5 | −28.8% |
| Other services | 95.7 | 95.7 | −4.3% |
Regional price parities, 2024, for metro areas and states: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. BEA regional price parities
New Orleans rent
The Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) puts a typical asking rent of $1,633 a month in New Orleans, based on homes listed right now, +2.0% on a year. The US figure is $1,932. Census median gross rent is $1,310, and it counts every renting household, not only new leases. One year of the asking rent equals 33% of the median household income.
| Rent | New Orleans | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical asking rent, Zillow ZORI | $1,633 | $1,932 |
| Asking rent, 12-month change | +2.0% | |
| Median gross rent, Census ACS 2024 | $1,310 | $1,487 |
| Share of median income, one year of asking rent | 33% | 28% |
One-year estimates, from the Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024, plus the Zillow Observed Rent Index.
New Orleans home prices
ZHVI (the Zillow Home Value Index) values a home in the middle of the market. On that measure, a typical New Orleans home was worth $241,895 as of September 2026. Year over year, the change comes to −1.5%, against $366,157 for the US. It takes 4.1 years of median household income to buy the home, against 4.5 for the US.
| Home prices | New Orleans | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value, September 2026 | $241,895 | $366,157 |
| 12-month change | −1.5% | +1.2% |
| 10-year change | +16.6% | +77.4% |
| Price to income (years of median income) | 4.1 | 4.5 |
| Price to rent (years of asking rent) | 12.3 | 15.8 |
Days on market, the forecast, and the price chart since 2000: housing market for New Orleans.
The salary you need to live in New Orleans
Two questions set the New Orleans salary that matches what your pay buys now: the place you live, and the income you earn.
- Moving from
- Salary
The method, plus every city lined up next to each other: cost of living by city.
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New Orleans cost of living compared with other cities
| City | Level of prices | Housing | Typical rent level | Typical value of a home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | 92.6 | 86.0 | $1,633 | $241,895 |
| Baton Rouge | 90.8 | 74.2 | $1,301 | $228,438 |
| New York City | 112.6 | 148.6 | $4,089 | $825,854 |
| Los Angeles | 113.6 | 170.4 | $2,772 | $927,891 |
| Chicago | 103.6 | 112.0 | $2,311 | $334,108 |
| Houston | 98.6 | 104.5 | $1,544 | $259,465 |
| Phoenix | 103.3 | 121.2 | $1,571 | $404,067 |
| Philadelphia | 102.6 | 113.1 | $1,757 | $231,584 |
| San Antonio | 94.7 | 94.6 | $1,381 | $244,623 |
US = 100 for price levels: BEA regional price parities, 2024. Rent figures come from Zillow ZORI. Home value data: Zillow ZHVI, September 2026.
Every city ranked: city cost of living comparison. Every state: cost of living in each state.