Median rent is 17% lower in New Orleans ($1,251/mo vs $1,509/mo). Buying is cheaper in Fort Worth, where the median home runs $303,000 versus $315,700. Households earn more in Fort Worth ($79,507 vs $56,631 a year). Taken together, New Orleans is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 91.2 against 102.5 — about 11% lower overall prices. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches further in Fort Worth, TX.
Cost of living verdict
New Orleans is 11% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 91.2 in New Orleans vs 102.5 in Fort Worth (US national average = 100)
City A
Fort Worth, TX
City B
New Orleans, LA
How much would you need to earn in New Orleans, LA to maintain your standard of living from Fort Worth, TX?
Equivalent salary in New Orleans, LA
$66,734
You could earn $8,266 less (11% lower) and break even.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Fort Worth
Texas
New Orleans
Louisiana
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in New Orleans at $1,251/mo compared to $1,509/mo in Fort Worth (17% gap). Median home values are within 4% of each other: $303,000 in Fort Worth and $315,700 in New Orleans.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Fort Worth
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
New Orleans
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Air quality data is available for New Orleans (avg AQI 52.0) but not yet for Fort Worth.
Pick New Orleans if you prioritize lower overall cost of living (index 91.2 vs 102.5).
Pick Fort Worth if you prioritize higher median household income ($79,507/yr).
Pick New Orleans if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,251/mo median).
Is Fort Worth cheaper than New Orleans?
New Orleans is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 91.2 versus 102.5 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 11% lower in New Orleans.
How much is rent in Fort Worth vs New Orleans?
Median rent is $1,509/mo in Fort Worth, TX and $1,251/mo in New Orleans, LA. New Orleans, LA has the lower rent by about 17%.
Which has higher salaries — Fort Worth or New Orleans?
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth, TX and $56,631 in New Orleans, LA. Fort Worth, TX has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Which has lower taxes — Fort Worth or New Orleans?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in New Orleans to match my Fort Worth income?
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Fort Worth, TX is equivalent to roughly $88,978 in New Orleans, LA (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
