Home › LA › New Orleans, LA Cost of living in New Orleans, LA Livability score 69 · cost-of-living index 91.2 (US = 100)
How New Orleans compares Where New Orleans falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 91 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 91 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $261k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $261k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $131 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $131 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 9.6% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 9.6% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.62% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.62% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 630 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 630 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 14.4 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 14.4 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 92° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 92° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 43° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 43° Map of New Orleans Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps
Cost of living Metric Value Scope US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 91.2 metro-area #41 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 93.0 metro-area #16 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.19 metro-area #40 of 200 Median household income $62,748 metro-area #157 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $39,943 metro-area #97 of 200
Who lives here Metric Value Scope US rank Median age 38.9 years metro-area #106 of 200 Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 33.1% metro-area #103 of 200 Foreign-born residents 9.4% metro-area #79 of 200 Homes that are owner-occupied 60.3% metro-area #173 of 200
Economy Metric Value Scope US rank Unemployment rate 6.72% metro-area #178 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +0.3% metro-area #166 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value Scope US rank Median home price $261,414 metro-area #52 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 4.2× metro-area #65 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +2.8% metro-area #59 of 200 Price per square foot $131 metro-area #45 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 2,000 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,622 metro-area #102 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 6,500 Median days on market 34 metro-area #165 of 200
Taxes Metric Value Scope US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 9.1% state #38 of 200 Combined sales tax 9.56% state #195 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 3.00% Capital gains tax 4.25% state #78 of 200 High earners No special surtax Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits Effective property tax rate 0.62% metro-area #38 of 200 Median property tax paid $1,511 metro-area #36 of 200
Health & childcare Metric Value Scope US rank Life expectancy at birth 74.5 years metro-area #160 of 200 Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,600 state #65 of 200 Uninsured (share of residents) 9.1% metro-area #113 of 200 Primary care providers per 100k 88 metro-area #41 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $8,000 state #14 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value Scope US rank Annual registration $100 state #83 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) 0.10% of value (~$28/yr) state #105 of 200 Emissions testing Not required Emissions detail No vehicle emissions testing DMV & license offices 5 Avg commute to work 26 min metro-area #140 of 200 Commute by driving alone 73.0% metro-area #74 of 200 Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 33.5% metro-area #121 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value Scope US rank Electricity 14.4¢/kWh state #27 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $130 state #27 of 200 Gasoline $2.95/gal state #3 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $52 state #23 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $108 state #115 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $76 state #20 of 200
Insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Home insurance (annual) $3,500 state #160 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $2,900 state #181 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 94.9 — Relatively High metro-area #144 of 200 Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $1,000 state #179 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 state #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value Scope US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 48 metro-area #117 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 2,900 metro-area #158 of 200 Homes with air conditioning (state) 93% state #87 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 1,500 metro-area #23 of 200 Days per year ≥ 90°F 93 metro-area #178 of 200 Days per year ≥ 100°F 1 metro-area #105 of 200 Avg summer high (state) 92°F metro-area #163 of 200 Avg winter low 43°F metro-area #39 of 200 Annual precipitation 63.4" metro-area #196 of 200 Annual snowfall 0.0" metro-area #1 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 57% metro-area #121 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 9a Frost window 02-10 → 12-15
Safety Metric Value Scope US rank Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 630 state #191 of 200 Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 3,000 state #186 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value Scope US rank Grocery stores 31 metro-area #139 of 200 Parks 36 Hiking areas 12 Golf courses 18 Shooting ranges 3 Lakes 2
Permits Metric Value Scope US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 2 state #1 of 200 Permit detail Generally easy
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
Top employers in New Orleans Major public and private employers in the New Orleans, LA area.
Employer Sector Jobs Ochsner Health System Healthcare Careers → Tulane University Education Search → Entergy Energy Careers → Xavier University of Louisiana Education Search → New Orleans Saints/Pelicans entertainment Search → Port of New Orleans logistics Search →
Salaries by occupation in New Orleans Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
Occupation Median pay Dentists $199,990 Lawyers $128,800 Physician Assistants $127,420 Pharmacists $126,550 Financial Managers $121,050 Software Developers $116,750 Marketing Managers $114,270 Civil Engineers $108,130 Construction Managers $105,770 General & Operations Managers $104,520 Human Resources Managers $103,820 Mechanical Engineers $102,010 Physical Therapists $100,260 Dental Hygienists $83,210 Registered Nurses $81,400 Data Scientists $79,870 Accountants & Auditors $74,090 Web Developers $69,210 Electricians $60,360 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $60,170 Welders, Cutters & Solderers $55,500 Elementary School Teachers $53,270 Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $51,050 Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $49,110 Carpenters $48,710 Graphic Designers $48,560 Real Estate Sales Agents $47,030 Medical Assistants $35,920
Find a job in New Orleans Cities in the New Orleans area New Orleans (380,408) → Metairie (140,046) → Kenner (65,785) → Marrero (32,003) → Laplace (28,956) → Terrytown (26,105) → Chalmette (22,192) → Harvey (21,485) → Gretna (17,640) → Estelle (17,091) → Luling (14,207) → River Ridge (13,362) → Destrehan (12,057) → Woodmere (11,661) → Timberlane (10,912) → Belle Chasse (10,781) → Waggaman (10,706) → Jefferson (10,141) →
What your paycheck is really worth, city by city — cost of living, taxes,
housing and pay across 200 US metros and 3,220 towns.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts from Google Maps public listings.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.
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