Median rent is 6% lower in Metairie ($1,175/mo vs $1,251/mo). Buying is cheaper in New Orleans, where the median home runs $315,700 versus $327,500. Households earn more in Metairie ($73,042 vs $56,631 a year). Overall, the two cities have a nearly identical cost of living index (91.2).
City A
Metairie, LA
City B
New Orleans, LA
How much would you need to earn in New Orleans, LA to maintain your standard of living from Metairie, LA?
Equivalent salary in New Orleans, LA
$75,000
Costs are about the same in both cities.
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
Metairie
Louisiana
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 Metairie at $1,175/mo compared to $1,251/mo in New Orleans (6% gap). Median home values are within 4% of each other: $327,500 in Metairie and $315,700 in New Orleans.
Metric
Metairie
New Orleans
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Metairie
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 Metairie.
Pick Metairie if you prioritize higher median household income ($73,042/yr).
Metairie is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 91.2 versus 91.2 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 0% lower in Metairie.
Median rent is $1,175/mo in Metairie, LA and $1,251/mo in New Orleans, LA. Metairie, LA has the lower rent by about 6%.
Median household income is $73,042 in Metairie, LA and $56,631 in New Orleans, LA. Metairie, LA has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Metairie, LA is equivalent to roughly $100,000 in New Orleans, LA (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
