SalaryCompareTool

New Orleans, LA vs St. Louis, MO

Moving from New Orleans to St. Louis? Here's what changes — from your equivalent salary to housing ($261,414 → $276,878 median home) and taxes.

New Orleans vs St. Louis at a glance

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

New Orleans, LA St. Louis, MO Cost-of-living index New Orleans, LA — Cost-of-living index: 91 91 St. Louis, MO — Cost-of-living index: 95 95 Median home price New Orleans, LA — Median home price: $261k $261k St. Louis, MO — Median home price: $277k $277k Price per sqft New Orleans, LA — Price per sqft: $131 $131 St. Louis, MO — Price per sqft: $158 $158 Median rent New Orleans, LA — Median rent: $1,622 $1,622 St. Louis, MO — Median rent: $1,451 $1,451 Combined sales tax New Orleans, LA — Combined sales tax: 9.6% 9.6% St. Louis, MO — Combined sales tax: 8.4% 8.4% Property tax rate New Orleans, LA — Property tax rate: 0.62% 0.62% St. Louis, MO — Property tax rate: 1.26% 1.26% Violent crime /100k New Orleans, LA — Violent crime /100k: 630 630 St. Louis, MO — Violent crime /100k: 490 490 Electricity ¢/kWh New Orleans, LA — Electricity ¢/kWh: 14.4 14.4 St. Louis, MO — Electricity ¢/kWh: 14.0 14.0 Avg commute (min) New Orleans, LA — Avg commute (min): 26 26 St. Louis, MO — Avg commute (min): 25 25 Avg summer high °F New Orleans, LA — Avg summer high °F: 92° 92° St. Louis, MO — Avg summer high °F: 89° 89° Avg winter low °F New Orleans, LA — Avg winter low °F: 43° 43° St. Louis, MO — Avg winter low °F: 22° 22°

To keep the same standard of living as $100,000 in New Orleans, LA, you'd need about $104,144 in St. Louis, MO (+$4,144).

Livability — New Orleans, LA: 68 · St. Louis, MO: 65 (0–100).

What your home budget buys

A $500,000 home budget gets you about 3,826 sqft in New Orleans vs 3,161 sqft in St. Louis ($131 vs $158 per sqft).

Annual cost breakdown (at $100,000)

CategoryNew Orleans, LASt. Louis, MODifference
Housing $19,464 $17,412 −$2,052
Groceries $4,650 $4,934 +$284
Transportation $4,475 $3,390 −$1,085
Utilities $1,560 $1,512 −$48
Insurance $3,500 $2,400 −$1,100
Taxes $9,107 $10,488 +$1,381
Total $42,756 $40,136 −$2,620

Side by side

MetricNew Orleans, LASt. Louis, MO
Cost-of-living index91.295.0
Unemployment rate6.72%4.35%
Population growth (5-yr)0.3%0.3%
Air quality (median AQI)4855
Big Mac price (est.)$5.19$5.40
Median home price$261,414$276,878
Home price ÷ income4.2×3.7×
1-yr home appreciation2.8%2.9%
Price per square foot$131$158
Median rent$1,622$1,451
Total tax burden (% income)9.1%9.3%
Combined sales tax9.56%8.38%
Capital gains tax4.25%4.80%
Property tax rate0.62%1.26%
Healthcare (annual)$6,600$6,400
Childcare (annual, infant)$8,000$10,000
Vehicle property tax0.10%2.55%
Avg commute (min)2625
Home insurance / yr$3,500$2,400
Auto insurance / yr$2,900$1,800
Flood insurance / yr$1,000$750
Earthquake insurance / yr$100$400
Electricity ¢/kWh14.414.0
Gas $/gal2.953.00
Violent crime /100k630490
Avg summer high °F9289
Avg winter low °F4322
Permit difficulty (1–5)22

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