SalaryCompareTool

New Orleans, LA vs Indianapolis, IN

Moving from New Orleans to Indianapolis? Here's what changes — from your equivalent salary to housing ($261,414 → $295,921 median home) and taxes.

New Orleans vs Indianapolis at a glance

Bars scaled to the range across all 200 metros; labels show actual values.

New Orleans, LA Indianapolis, IN Cost-of-living index New Orleans, LA — Cost-of-living index: 91 91 Indianapolis, IN — Cost-of-living index: 95 95 Median home price New Orleans, LA — Median home price: $261k $261k Indianapolis, IN — Median home price: $296k $296k Price per sqft New Orleans, LA — Price per sqft: $131 $131 Indianapolis, IN — Price per sqft: $156 $156 Median rent New Orleans, LA — Median rent: $1,622 $1,622 Indianapolis, IN — Median rent: $1,553 $1,553 Combined sales tax New Orleans, LA — Combined sales tax: 9.6% 9.6% Indianapolis, IN — Combined sales tax: 7.0% 7.0% Property tax rate New Orleans, LA — Property tax rate: 0.62% 0.62% Indianapolis, IN — Property tax rate: 0.84% 0.84% Violent crime /100k New Orleans, LA — Violent crime /100k: 630 630 Indianapolis, IN — Violent crime /100k: 360 360 Electricity ¢/kWh New Orleans, LA — Electricity ¢/kWh: 14.4 14.4 Indianapolis, IN — Electricity ¢/kWh: 17.9 17.9 Avg commute (min) New Orleans, LA — Avg commute (min): 26 26 Indianapolis, IN — Avg commute (min): 25 25 Avg summer high °F New Orleans, LA — Avg summer high °F: 92° 92° Indianapolis, IN — Avg summer high °F: 86° 86° Avg winter low °F New Orleans, LA — Avg winter low °F: 43° 43° Indianapolis, IN — Avg winter low °F: 20° 20°

To keep the same standard of living as $100,000 in New Orleans, LA, you'd need about $103,790 in Indianapolis, IN (+$3,790).

Livability — New Orleans, LA: 68 · Indianapolis, IN: 71 (0–100).

What your home budget buys

A $500,000 home budget gets you about 3,826 sqft in New Orleans vs 3,211 sqft in Indianapolis ($131 vs $156 per sqft).

Annual cost breakdown (at $100,000)

CategoryNew Orleans, LAIndianapolis, INDifference
Housing $19,464 $18,636 −$828
Groceries $4,650 $4,740 +$90
Transportation $4,475 $3,250 −$1,225
Utilities $1,560 $1,932 +$372
Insurance $3,500 $1,600 −$1,900
Taxes $9,107 $7,367 −$1,740
Total $42,756 $37,525 −$5,231

Side by side

MetricNew Orleans, LAIndianapolis, IN
Cost-of-living index91.294.7
Unemployment rate6.72%4.28%
Population growth (5-yr)0.3%6.1%
Air quality (median AQI)4855
Big Mac price (est.)$5.19$5.39
Median home price$261,414$295,921
Home price ÷ income4.2×4.0×
1-yr home appreciation2.8%1.3%
Price per square foot$131$156
Median rent$1,622$1,553
Total tax burden (% income)9.1%9.3%
Combined sales tax9.56%7.00%
Capital gains tax4.25%3.05%
Property tax rate0.62%0.84%
Healthcare (annual)$6,600$6,600
Childcare (annual, infant)$8,000$12,000
Vehicle property tax0.10%1.20%
Avg commute (min)2625
Home insurance / yr$3,500$1,600
Auto insurance / yr$2,900$1,400
Flood insurance / yr$1,000$600
Earthquake insurance / yr$100$100
Electricity ¢/kWh14.417.9
Gas $/gal2.953.30
Violent crime /100k630360
Avg summer high °F9286
Avg winter low °F4320
Permit difficulty (1–5)22

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