Median rent is 38% lower in New Orleans ($1,251/mo vs $2,013/mo). Buying is cheaper in New Orleans, where the median home runs $315,700 versus $789,800. Households earn more in Scottsdale ($110,886 vs $56,631 a year).
City A
New Orleans, LA
City B
Scottsdale, AZ
How much would you need to earn in Scottsdale, AZ to maintain your standard of living from New Orleans, LA?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
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
New Orleans
Louisiana
Scottsdale
Arizona
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
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in New Orleans — median rent of $1,251/mo versus $2,013/mo in Scottsdale, a 38% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Scottsdale: the median home is $789,800 versus $315,700 in New Orleans — 60% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
New Orleans
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Scottsdale
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Scottsdale has cleaner air on average: 40.0 AQI (Good) compared to 52.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Scottsdale if you prioritize higher median household income ($110,886/yr).
Pick New Orleans if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,251/mo median).
Pick Scottsdale if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 40.0).
Is New Orleans cheaper than Scottsdale?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in New Orleans vs Scottsdale?
Median rent is $1,251/mo in New Orleans, LA and $2,013/mo in Scottsdale, AZ. New Orleans, LA has the lower rent by about 38%.
Which has higher salaries — New Orleans or Scottsdale?
Median household income is $56,631 in New Orleans, LA and $110,886 in Scottsdale, AZ. Scottsdale, AZ 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?
Scottsdale, AZ has better air quality on average: 40.0 AQI versus 52.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — New Orleans or Scottsdale?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Scottsdale to match my New Orleans income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
