Cost of Living in New Orleans, LA
New Orleans-Metairie, LA — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in New Orleans, LA to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is New Orleans, LA?
With a price level of 92.6 (U.S. average = 100), New Orleans, LA is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 14% below average; everyday goods are 6% below average; utilities are 29% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 4% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in utilities.
Prices in New Orleans, LA vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 92.6 | −7.4% |
| Housing | 86.0 | −14.0% |
| Goods | 93.7 | −6.3% |
| Utilities | 71.2 | −28.8% |
| Other services | 95.7 | −4.3% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in New Orleans, LA
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $959 | $38,360/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,105 | $44,200/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,323 | $52,920/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,693 | $67,720/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,982 | $79,280/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in New Orleans, LA
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in New Orleans, LA | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $37,000 | $31,186 |
| $60,000 | $55,600 | $45,573 |
| $80,000 | $74,100 | $59,123 |
| $100,000 | $92,600 | $71,582 |
| $150,000 | $138,900 | $102,423 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Louisiana 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning New Orleans, LA's median wage of $47,290 takes home about $3,262 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,105, which is 34% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,157 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in New Orleans, LA
- Federal income tax$3,495
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,932
- Medicare (1.45%)$686
- Louisiana income tax$1,032
- Take-home pay$39,145
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in New Orleans, LA
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Louisiana cities
Half of Louisiana’s 1,934,900 workers earn less than $45,520 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $30,350–$66,340 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Houma, LA stretches a paycheck furthest, while Hammond, LA is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA | $47,290 | 92.6 | $1,105 | 34% | $2,157 | $42,275 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $48,710 | 90.8 | $1,048 | 31% | $2,306 | $44,331 |
| Lafayette, LA | $41,780 | 87.2 | $847 | 29% | $2,060 | $39,999 |
| Shreveport, LA | $44,820 | 84.8 | $982 | 32% | $2,121 | $43,926 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $45,700 | 85.9 | $894 | 28% | $2,266 | $44,163 |
| Slidell, LA | $43,710 | 92.7 | $1,130 | 37% | $1,901 | $39,229 |
| Monroe, LA | $38,150 | 83.6 | $772 | 29% | $1,901 | $38,369 |
| Houma, LA | $45,610 | 85.1 | $904 | 29% | $2,250 | $44,470 |
| Alexandria, LA | $40,600 | 85.7 | $780 | 28% | $2,051 | $39,645 |
| Hammond, LA | $38,480 | 84.5 | $848 | 31% | $1,846 | $38,279 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
New Orleans, LA vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA | 92.6 | $1,105 | $47,290 | 445,550 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 111.0 | $2,016 | $57,220 | 446,380 |
| Albany, NY | 99.6 | $1,417 | $58,460 | 449,410 |
| Greenville, SC | 93.3 | $1,155 | $46,580 | 434,900 |
| Tulsa, OK | 89.2 | $976 | $46,670 | 458,730 |
| Knoxville, TN | 92.6 | $1,126 | $47,080 | 424,600 |
| Fresno, CA | 102.2 | $1,315 | $46,910 | 476,890 |
Frequently asked questions
Is New Orleans, LA expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area are 92.6% of the U.S. average, with housing at 86.0%. It is the #226 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in New Orleans, LA?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $55,558 in New Orleans, LA (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $47,290.
Can you afford New Orleans, LA on the median wage?
A single worker on the $47,290 median wage takes home about $3,262 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,105 would take 34% of that.
How much is rent in New Orleans, LA?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for New Orleans, LA are $959 for a studio, $1,105 for one bedroom, $1,323 for two bedrooms and $1,693 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in New Orleans, LA
Management Occupations
- Managers, All Other — $112,550
- General and Operations Manager — $105,110
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Accountant and Auditor — $77,940
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $73,920
Legal Occupations
- Lawyer — $121,290
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $60,750
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $60,350
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $28,560
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $81,850
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $60,640
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Medical Assistant — $36,780
- Nursing Assistant — $34,320
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $23,650
Protective Service Occupations
- Security Guard — $32,240
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,130
- Cooks, Restaurant — $30,520
- Food Preparation Worker — $26,200
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $25,470
- Bartender — $21,230
- Waiter and Waitress — $16,640
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $30,020
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $27,910
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $65,720
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $45,090
- Retail Salesperson — $30,400
- Cashier — $28,370
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $60,270
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $46,980
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $42,830
- Customer Service Representative — $39,300
- Receptionist and Information Clerk — $35,750
- Office Clerks, General — $33,860
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- Construction Laborer — $39,480
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other — $56,160
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $45,260
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $51,540
- Light Truck Driver — $43,940
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $36,380
- Stocker and Order Filler — $34,830