What is the cost of living in New Orleans, LA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, New Orleans has an overall cost of living index of 108, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Louisiana, New Orleans has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Louisiana's index of 91.
The standard of living in New Orleans ranks as #95 most affordable out of the 103 places we measured in Louisiana. By definition, that implies New Orleans ranks as the #8 most expensive place in the Pelican State.
For more reading on life in New Orleans, check out:
New Orleans Cost Of Living Vs. Louisiana
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in New Orleans. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in New Orleans is 100.
The Groceries index in New Orleans is 99.
The Health index in New Orleans is 128.
The Housing index in New Orleans is 94.
The Transportation index in New Orleans is 97.
The Utilities index in New Orleans is 96.
| Living Expense | New Orleans | Louisiana | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 108 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 128 | 82 | 100 |
| Housing | 94 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 96 | 96 | 100 |
New Orleans Cost Of Living Compared To Louisiana Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Louisiana, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in New Orleans Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
New Orleans, LA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Louisiana, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in New Orleans is $242,492.
The Median Rent in New Orleans is $1,251.
The Median Income in New Orleans is $56,631.
The Home Value To Income in New Orleans is 4.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in New Orleans is 0.27x.
| Statistic | New Orleans | Louisiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $242,492 | $211,634 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,251 | $1,064 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $56,631 | $60,756 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.3x | 3.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.27x | 0.21x | 0.21x |
New Orleans, LA Costs By Category
Detailed New Orleans Services costs vs. Louisiana
| Item | New Orleans | Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.22 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.3 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $12.33 | $18 |
| Haircut | $21.67 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $43.17 | $45.56 |
Detailed New Orleans Groceries costs vs. Louisiana
| Item | New Orleans | Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.15 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.39 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.55 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.31 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.61 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.23 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.57 | $3.7 |
Detailed New Orleans Health costs vs. Louisiana
| Item | New Orleans | Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $128.17 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $127.78 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $129.44 | $113.29 |
Detailed New Orleans Transportation costs vs. Louisiana
| Item | New Orleans | Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.14 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $68.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed New Orleans Utilities costs vs. Louisiana
| Item | New Orleans | Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $149.86 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.9 | $192.25 |
New Orleans SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around New Orleans
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around New Orleans. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Metairie, LA has a cost of living index of 104, 1.0x New Orleans.
Kenner, LA has a cost of living index of 101, 0.9x New Orleans.
Marrero, LA has a cost of living index of 96, 0.9x New Orleans.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. New Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metairie, LA | 139,729 | 104 | 1.0x |
| Kenner, LA | 64,904 | 101 | 0.9x |
| Marrero, LA | 32,540 | 96 | 0.9x |
| Terrytown, LA | 24,726 | 95 | 0.9x |
| Chalmette, LA | 22,616 | 97 | 0.9x |
| Harvey, LA | 20,915 | 98 | 0.9x |
| Gretna, LA | 17,389 | 95 | 0.9x |
| Estelle, LA | 16,341 | 99 | 0.9x |
| Timberlane, LA | 10,886 | 99 | 0.9x |
| Westwego, LA | 8,335 | 92 | 0.9x |
