Cost of Living in New Orleans, LA
| Cost of Living in New Orleans, LA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 49% higher | 49% higher |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 9% lower | 28% lower |
| Food | 2% higher | 1% lower |
| Healthcare | 1% higher | 3% higher |
| Transportation | 1% higher | 4% lower |
| Goods & Services | 8% higher | 4% higher |
The cost of living in New Orleans, LA is 17% higher than the state average and 12% higher than the national average. New Orleans, LA housing is 49% more expensive than the U.S average, while utilities are about 28% less pricey. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 1% cheaper in New Orleans, LA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 4% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 3% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 4% pricier in New Orleans, LA.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in New Orleans is $1,383, while home prices circle around $812,851.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In New Orleans, energy bills cost around $116.30 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $4.66 in New Orleans, a dozen eggs go for around $3.19 and a pound of potatoes circles around $5.01.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In New Orleans, an optometry check-up costs around $115.44, while a dentist appointment is priced $121.36 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.11 in New Orleans, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $62.89.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $49.00 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $40.33.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in New Orleans, you should budget around $13.29 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $27.50, while dry cleaning costs about $20.89.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In New Orleans, the median household income is $55,339.