Cost of Living in New Orleans, LA
Updated November 2026 · Orleans Parish · New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area · population 371,853
Prices in New Orleans are 6.5% below the US average (local index 93.5; the BEA index for the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area is 92.6), with utilities the biggest saving at 71.2; a single adult's modelled budget is about $2,442 a month and the median rent is $1,251.
Prices by category
CostLiving local estimate. 100 = US average; 110 means prices are 10% higher. Housing reflects New Orleans's own median rent compared with the area's average rent; goods, utilities and other services are BEA's official price parities for the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area, unchanged.
New Orleans price index by category, US average = 100: All items 93.5, Housing (rents) 87.7, Goods 93.7, Utilities 71.2, Other services 95.7
It is the most expensive of the 9 Louisiana cities in our data. Cheaper than 79% of the cities we cover.
| BEA index | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 94.7 | 95.7 | 94.4 | 93.7 | 91.2 | 92.6 |
Monthly budget by household type
1 adult · 1-bedroom · modelled estimate for New Orleans, LA
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $884 | $10,608 | 36% |
| Utilities | $221 | $2,652 | 9% |
| Food at home | $264 | $3,168 | 11% |
| Transportation | $579 | $6,948 | 24% |
| Health care | $336 | $4,032 | 14% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $158 | $1,896 | 6% |
| Total | $2,442 | $29,304 | 100% |
2 adults · 2-bedroom · modelled estimate for New Orleans, LA
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,084 | $13,008 | 27% |
| Utilities | $347 | $4,164 | 9% |
| Food at home | $488 | $5,856 | 12% |
| Transportation | $1,147 | $13,764 | 29% |
| Health care | $623 | $7,476 | 16% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $311 | $3,732 | 8% |
| Total | $4,000 | $48,000 | 100% |
2 adults + 2 children · 3-bedroom · modelled estimate for New Orleans, LA
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,217 | $14,604 | 25% |
| Utilities | $423 | $5,076 | 9% |
| Food at home | $696 | $8,352 | 14% |
| Transportation | $1,524 | $18,288 | 31% |
| Health care | $581 | $6,972 | 12% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $400 | $4,800 | 8% |
| Total | $4,841 | $58,092 | 100% |
Modelled estimate of basic costs, excluding taxes, child care and savings. Housing is rent excluding tenant-paid utilities (counted under utilities). See how the budget is calculated.
Housing costs in New Orleans
Rent by number of bedrooms
| Size | Median rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $966 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,078 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,322 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,484 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,727 |
Median rent: Census ACS 2020-2024 median gross rent by bedrooms (rent plus tenant-paid utilities, all renters).
Rent, home values and affordability
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,251 |
| Median contract rent (excl. utilities) | $1,026 |
| Median home value | $315,700 |
| Owner costs with a mortgage | $2,211/mo |
| Median household income | $56,631 |
| Rent as % of renter income Very expensive | 35.9% |
| Home value ÷ household income Expensive | 5.6× |
Census ACS 5-year 2020-2024.
Electricity and gas prices
Residential electricity in Louisiana
12.87¢ per kWh, August 2026
12-month change: +2.5% (from 12.55¢) · US 18.16¢
Average household uses 1,211 kWh a month in Louisiana ≈ $158/month. Source: EIA-861M (statewide average).
Regular gasoline regional figure: Gulf Coast (PADD 3)
$3.64 per gallon, week of 2026-11-02
12-month change: +44.8% (from $2.51) · US $4.15
EIA weekly retail price survey; Louisiana is covered by the Gulf Coast (PADD 3) average.
Inflation in the South
Consumer prices in the South Census region rose +3.4% in the 12 months to September 2026 (US +3.7%). Nationally, food at home changed +1.8%, shelter +3.2% and energy +20.4%. Source: BLS CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted. CPI is published for regions and large metro areas, so the regional figure is shown.
Salary equivalent
Because prices in New Orleans are 6.5% below the US average, $60,000 here has the buying power of about $64,200 in an average-priced US area.
Formula: US-equivalent = salary × 100 ÷ 93.5. Based on the local cost index (CostLiving estimate from BEA RPP and Census rents); taxes not included.
Nearby cities
| City | Distance | Index | Budget (single) | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metairie, LA | 15 mi | 92.5 | $2,452 | $1,175 |
| Kenner, LA | 19 mi | 92.5 | $2,374 | $1,179 |
| Thibodaux, LA | 56 mi | 86.5 | $2,097 | $960 |
| Gulfport, MS | 58 mi | 90.4 | $2,294 | $1,086 |
| Biloxi, MS | 65 mi | 90.4 | $2,333 | $1,089 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 76 mi | 89.9 | $2,291 | $1,067 |
Cities with a similar cost of living
| City | Index | Budget (single) | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville, TN | 93.5 | $2,415 | $1,191 |
| Bloomington, IL | 93.5 | $2,242 | $1,050 |
| Provo, UT | 93.5 | $2,527 | $1,193 |
| Manteo, NC | 93.4 | $2,494 | $1,204 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 93.4 | $2,484 | $1,292 |
| Twin Falls, ID | 93.6 | $2,202 | $1,082 |
Compare New Orleans with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is New Orleans, LA an expensive place to live?
New Orleans has a local cost of living index of 93.5, which is 6.5% below the US average. This CostLiving estimate starts from the BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area (92.6) and adjusts housing to New Orleans's own rents. It is 5.3 points above the Louisiana average. It is the most expensive of the 9 Louisiana cities in our data. Cheaper than 79% of the cities we cover.
How much money do you need to live in New Orleans?
Our modelled estimate of basic monthly costs is $2,442 for a single adult, $4,000 for a couple and $4,841 for a family of four, before taxes, child care and savings. A $60,000 salary in an average-priced US area buys about the same as $56,100 in New Orleans.
What is the average rent in New Orleans?
The median gross rent (rent plus tenant-paid utilities) is $1,251 a month (Census ACS 2020-2024). By size: 1 bedroom $1,078, 2 bedrooms $1,322, 3 bedrooms $1,484. The typical renter spends 35.9% of household income on rent (very expensive).
How much does a house cost in New Orleans?
The median owner-estimated home value is $315,700, 5.6 times the median household income of $56,631 (expensive). Owners with a mortgage pay a median $2,211 a month in housing costs.
How much is electricity and gas in New Orleans?
Louisiana residential electricity averaged 12.87¢ per kWh in August 2026 (US 18.16¢). Regular gasoline was $3.64 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3) average, week of 2026-11-02).
Sources and notes
- Local cost index: CostLiving estimate from BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metropolitan statistical area (BEA index 92.6) with housing from Census ACS median rent (city figure); see the methodology.
- Rents, home values, income, population: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2020-2024, Census place 2255000 (New Orleans city).
- Electricity: EIA-861M, Louisiana residential average, August 2026.
- Gasoline: EIA weekly retail regular gasoline, Gulf Coast (PADD 3), week of 2026-11-02.
- Inflation: BLS CPI-U South region, September 2026.
- Budget baselines: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2025; electricity use by household size: EIA RECS 2020.
- Gasoline price: regional figure (EIA publishes weekly prices for only 9 states).
Labels such as “county figure” or “state nonmetro figure” mark values that come from a larger area because the city-level figure is unavailable or unreliable. The monthly budget is a modelled estimate, not observed spending, and excludes taxes. This page is for general information and is not financial advice. Methodology · All sources