SalaryCompareTool

New Orleans, LA vs Seattle, WA

Moving from New Orleans to Seattle? Here's what changes — from your equivalent salary to housing ($261,414 → $750,279 median home) and taxes.

New Orleans vs Seattle at a glance

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

New Orleans, LA Seattle, WA Cost-of-living index New Orleans, LA — Cost-of-living index: 91 91 Seattle, WA — Cost-of-living index: 113 113 Median home price New Orleans, LA — Median home price: $261k $261k Seattle, WA — Median home price: $750k $750k Price per sqft New Orleans, LA — Price per sqft: $131 $131 Seattle, WA — Price per sqft: $417 $417 Median rent New Orleans, LA — Median rent: $1,622 $1,622 Seattle, WA — Median rent: $2,232 $2,232 Combined sales tax New Orleans, LA — Combined sales tax: 9.6% 9.6% Seattle, WA — Combined sales tax: 9.4% 9.4% Property tax rate New Orleans, LA — Property tax rate: 0.62% 0.62% Seattle, WA — Property tax rate: 0.88% 0.88% Violent crime /100k New Orleans, LA — Violent crime /100k: 630 630 Seattle, WA — Violent crime /100k: 375 375 Electricity ¢/kWh New Orleans, LA — Electricity ¢/kWh: 14.4 14.4 Seattle, WA — Electricity ¢/kWh: 14.4 14.4 Avg commute (min) New Orleans, LA — Avg commute (min): 26 26 Seattle, WA — Avg commute (min): 30 30 Avg summer high °F New Orleans, LA — Avg summer high °F: 92° 92° Seattle, WA — Avg summer high °F: 76° 76° Avg winter low °F New Orleans, LA — Avg winter low °F: 43° 43° Seattle, WA — Avg winter low °F: 37° 37°

To keep the same standard of living as $100,000 in New Orleans, LA, you'd need about $123,617 in Seattle, WA (+$23,617).

Livability — New Orleans, LA: 68 · Seattle, WA: 48 (0–100).

What your home budget buys

A $500,000 home budget gets you about 3,826 sqft in New Orleans vs 1,200 sqft in Seattle ($131 vs $417 per sqft).

Annual cost breakdown (at $100,000)

CategoryNew Orleans, LASeattle, WADifference
Housing $19,464 $26,784 +$7,320
Groceries $4,650 $5,405 +$755
Transportation $4,475 $4,075 −$400
Utilities $1,560 $1,548 −$12
Insurance $3,500 $1,500 −$2,000
Taxes $9,107 $8,826 −$281
Total $42,756 $48,138 +$5,382

Side by side

MetricNew Orleans, LASeattle, WA
Cost-of-living index91.2112.7
Unemployment rate6.72%4.59%
Population growth (5-yr)0.3%7.1%
Air quality (median AQI)4847
Big Mac price (est.)$5.19$6.41
Median home price$261,414$750,279
Home price ÷ income4.2×7.0×
1-yr home appreciation2.8%-1.9%
Price per square foot$131$417
Median rent$1,622$2,232
Total tax burden (% income)9.1%10.7%
Combined sales tax9.56%9.38%
Capital gains tax4.25%7.00%
Property tax rate0.62%0.88%
Healthcare (annual)$6,600$6,600
Childcare (annual, infant)$8,000$16,000
Vehicle property tax0.10%None
Avg commute (min)2630
Home insurance / yr$3,500$1,500
Auto insurance / yr$2,900$1,600
Flood insurance / yr$1,000$700
Earthquake insurance / yr$100$700
Electricity ¢/kWh14.414.4
Gas $/gal2.954.55
Violent crime /100k630375
Avg summer high °F9276
Avg winter low °F4337
Permit difficulty (1–5)25
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