Cost of Living in New Orleans, LA

The cost of living in New Orleans, LA is 11.8% higher than the national average. Generally, housing in New Orleans is 49.0% more expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $988 – $1,666. You can expect to pay 2.6% less for groceries, 25.7% less for utilities, and 6.3% less for transportation.

+11.8%

Overall Cost of Living vs. National Average

+49.0%

Housing Cost vs. National Average

$988 - $1,666

Most Common Rent Range

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Cost of Living Summary in New Orleans, LA by Household Type

The cost of living in New Orleans for a renter is 14.3% higher than the national average. If you are a renter, you can expect to pay around $5,160/month to cover basic household expenses. The following categories represent a breakdown of average monthly spending. Costs may vary based on location or market conditions.

Groceries $618 per month -2.5% lower than US avg.
Housing $2,675 per month +38.1% higher than US avg.
Utilities $281 per month -24.3% lower than US avg.
Transportation $411 per month -6.4% lower than US avg.
Healthcare $154 per month +9.2% higher than US avg.
Goods & Services $1,021 per month +3.0% higher than US avg.

The cost of living in New Orleans for a home owner is 12.0% higher than the national average. If you are a home owner, you can expect to pay around $8,920/month to cover basic household expenses. The following categories represent a breakdown of average monthly spending. Costs may vary based on location or market conditions.

Groceries $1,228 per month -2.6% lower than US avg.
Housing $3,300 per month +53.8% higher than US avg.
Utilities $604 per month -26.1% lower than US avg.
Transportation $890 per month -6.5% lower than US avg.
Healthcare $424 per month +9.6% higher than US avg.
Goods & Services $2,474 per month +2.9% higher than US avg.

The cost of living in New Orleans for a married couple with children under 6 is 9.8% higher than the national average. If you are a married couple with children under 6, you can expect to pay around $7,895/month to cover basic household expenses. The following categories represent a breakdown of average monthly spending. Costs may vary based on location or market conditions.

Groceries $1,195 per month -2.5% lower than US avg.
Housing $2,824 per month +47.4% higher than US avg.
Utilities $584 per month -25.5% lower than US avg.
Transportation $845 per month -6.5% lower than US avg.
Healthcare $346 per month +9.5% higher than US avg.
Goods & Services $2,101 per month +2.8% higher than US avg.

The cost of living in New Orleans for a married couple with children 6-17 is 10.5% higher than the national average. If you are a married couple with children 6-17, you can expect to pay around $9,351/month to cover basic household expenses. The following categories represent a breakdown of average monthly spending. Costs may vary based on location or market conditions.

Groceries $1,405 per month -2.5% lower than US avg.
Housing $3,296 per month +48.5% higher than US avg.
Utilities $643 per month -24.8% lower than US avg.
Transportation $949 per month -6.7% lower than US avg.
Healthcare $483 per month +9.5% higher than US avg.
Goods & Services $2,575 per month +3.6% higher than US avg.

Average Housing Cost in New Orleans, LA vs. National Average

Cost of Renting

The average rent in New Orleans, LA is $1,303, which is 16.2% lower than the national average.

Start your search for an apartment in New Orleans, LA, and view the average rent.

New Orleans, LA National Average
Apartment $1,303/month $1,554/month -16%

Cost of Buying a Home

The average listing price for a home in New Orleans, LA is $779,246, which is 56.5% higher than the national average.

New Orleans, LA National Average
Average House Cost $779,246 $498,033 +56%

Cost of Living Details for New Orleans, LA

Is New Orleans expensive to live in?

New Orleans’s overall cost of living is 11.8% higher than the national average, making it a more expensive city compared to other US locations.

What salary do I need to live comfortably in New Orleans, LA?

To live comfortably in New Orleans, LA, as a single adult with no dependents, you should aim for a salary around $61,920 before taxes. Expect to pay around $32,100/year for housing, $7,416/year for groceries, and $12,252 for goods and services. These costs will vary based on family size and location.

Groceries

The average cost of groceries in New Orleans, LA is 2.6% lower than the national average.

New Orleans, LA National Average
Steak
$14.96
$14.82
+1%
Ground Beef
$6.78
$6.44
+5%
Sausage
$4.81
$4.94
-3%
Frying Chicken
$1.51
$1.56
-3%

Utilities

The average cost of utilities in New Orleans, LA is 25.7% lower than the national average.

New Orleans, LA National Average
Energy
$119.80
$200.07
-40%
Phone
$188.57
$193.54
-3%

Healthcare

The average cost of healthcare in New Orleans, LA is 9.8% higher than the national average.

New Orleans, LA National Average
Optometrist Visit
$112.83
$128.65
-12%
Doctor Visit
$170.09
$140.46
+21%
Dentist Visit
$123.11
$115.50
+7%
Ibuprofen
$10.69
$10.83
-1%

Transportation

The average cost of transportation in New Orleans, LA is 6.3% lower than the national average.

New Orleans, LA National Average
Gasoline (1 gallon)
$3.12
$3.39
-8%
Tire Balance
$59.58
$60.97
-2%

Goods & Services

The average cost of good and services in New Orleans, LA is 3.0% higher than the national average.

New Orleans, LA National Average
Toothpaste
$3.89
$4.04
-4%
Shampoo
$1.58
$1.43
+10%
Dry Cleaning
$20.34
$16.69
+22%
Man Dress Shirt
$47.41
$37.60
+26%

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What is a cost of living index?

A cost of living index is a numerical tool designed to compare expenses in different locations. It tracks the prices of essential goods and services, such as housing, food, utilities, transportation, and healthcare and assigns a score to each region. This index helps renters understand how costly one city is compared to another, helping with financial planning and decision-making before moving to a new place.

How is cost of living calculated?

Cost of living is calculated by looking at the prices of a variety of recurring expenses that people typically need. This can include housing, food, healthcare, and other everyday expenses. Each of these categories is weighted based on its importance in a typical budget. The prices are then compared across different locations to determine how much more or less expensive it is to live in one place compared to another.

Housing

Housing refers to the money you spend on where you live. This includes paying rent if you live in an apartment or making mortgage payments if you own a home.

Food and Groceries

Food and groceries cover the cost of buying food and everyday items like fruits, vegetables, snacks, and drinks. It's all the food you eat at home and the basic supplies you need to keep your house running smoothly.

Utilities

Utilities are the basic services that keep your home comfortable and functional. This includes bills for electricity, water, and internet and phone services.

Healthcare

Healthcare includes the expenses for medical needs. This means the cost of seeing doctors and dentists, buying medicine, and paying for related healthcare services.

Transportation

Transportation costs cover the expenses involved in commuting and travel, including costs associated with personal vehicle upkeep.

Goods & Services

Goods and services cover other everyday expenses that you have. This includes buying clothes, paying for entertainment like movies or sports, and other services you might use, such as haircuts or gym memberships. These are the things you spend money on outside of basic necessities.

How to interpret your results

Knowing whether you’ll save or spend more on expenses in a new city can help you with budgeting. There are a few practical applications of this knowledge. If you're thinking of moving to a more expensive area, you may need to adjust your spending. A region with particularly high rent may encourage you to allocate more of your budget toward housing and less toward entertainment and restaurants, for example. A region with a lower cost of living overall means you may be able to increase your spending in certain areas.

Calculating your estimated cost of living in a new city helps you plan your budget accordingly. Play around with numbers to find a balance between essential spending and disposable income.

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in November 2024.