New Orleans, Louisiana has an overall cost of living index of 91.2, which is 8.8 points below the US average of 100 — making it more affordable than most American cities. Renters pay a median of $1,251 per month, while the typical home is valued around $315,700. Households earn a median of $56,631 per year, leaving rent at a manageable share of income for many residents. Air quality is moderate, with an average AQI of 52. Below: housing costs, local wages by occupation, neighborhoods, climate, jobs and major industries, and healthcare access — all drawn from US Census, BEA, BLS, HUD, EPA, and NOAA data.
$56,631
Median Income / yr
Census ACS
$1,251
Median Rent / mo
Census ACS
$315,700
Median Home Value
Census ACS
91.2
Cost of Living Index
Studio FMR
$964
HUD · FY2024
1BR Fair Market Rent
$1,113
HUD · FY2024
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,331
HUD · FY2024
3BR Fair Market Rent
$1,701
HUD · FY2024
Fair Market Rent is the 40th percentile of gross rents in the metro area · HUD FY2024
Each category indexed to the US average of 100. Below 100 = cheaper than average.
Overall
91.2
Goods
93.0
Rents / Housing
77.8
Services
77.6
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro-level)
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Software Developer | $133,450 |
| Registered Nurse | $89,700 |
| Elementary Teacher | $56,050 |
| Electrician | $61,160 |
| Accountant | $83,360 |
| Plumber | $62,180 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $306,320 |
| Civil Engineer | $108,160 |
| Operations Manager | $130,890 |
| Market Research Analyst | $70,630 |
| Health Services Manager | $115,900 |
| Truck Driver | $54,010 |
| Physician Assistant | N/A |
| Surgeon | N/A |
| Data Scientist | N/A |
| Computer Engineer | $134,390 |
Source: BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
Population
371,853
Latest estimate
Median Age
38.8 yrs
Census ACS
52.0
Moderate0 = clean · 50 = moderate boundary · lower is better
Source: EPA AirNow
Total Neighborhoods
20
Tracked in our database
Avg Walk Score
N/A
0–100 scale
Avg Median Rent
$1,150
Per month
Avg Home Value
$324,224
Census ACS
| Neighborhood | Walk Score | Median Rent | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP 70112 | — | $1,050 | $415,300 |
| ZIP 70113 | — | $917 | $253,100 |
| ZIP 70114 | — | $1,035 | $178,000 |
| ZIP 70115 | — | $1,382 | $586,300 |
| ZIP 70116 | — | $1,170 | $391,800 |
| ZIP 70117 | — | $1,135 | $241,700 |
| ZIP 70118 | — | $1,195 | $425,200 |
| ZIP 70119 | — | $1,248 | $327,000 |
| ZIP 70122 | — | $1,159 | $262,900 |
| ZIP 70124 | — | $1,715 | $557,600 |
Showing top 10 of 20 tracked neighborhoods.
January Avg
54°F
July Avg
84°F
Sunny Days / Year
—
Annual Snowfall
—
Climate category: Subtropical · Source: NOAA/NCEI 30-year normals.
Healthcare Score
31.0
poor
Hospitals
10
Doctors per 1,000
1.00
Insurance Coverage
91.9%
New Orleans has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 91.2. The US national average is 100, so New Orleans is 8.8 points below the national average.
The median gross rent in New Orleans is $1,251 per month according to US Census ACS data.
The median household income in New Orleans is $56,631 per year.
The median home value in New Orleans is $315,700 based on the latest Census ACS survey.
New Orleans has an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 52.0, which is rated "Moderate" by the EPA. Lower AQI values indicate cleaner air.
Tax data for Louisiana is not yet available.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
