What is the average rent in New Orleans?

A 1-bedroom apartment in New Orleans city centre costs approximately USD 1,853 per month. Outside the centre, rent drops to USD 1,198 (saving 35%). A 3-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around USD 3,053.

Is New Orleans affordable to live in?

New Orleans is expensive by global standards. Groceries are average, restaurants are expensive, and local purchasing power is weak.

🇺🇸 LA, United States · 2026

Cost of Living in New Orleans

Q: How expensive is New Orleans compared to the rest of United States?

New Orleans ranks #143 out of 577 cities globally. It is 12.7% cheaper than the United States average, based on 82 cities. The rent index is 37.3 and local purchasing power is 131.2.

12.7% below the United States average

Ranked #143 of 577 cities · More expensive than 75.2% of cities worldwide

-12.7%

Cost of Living

-9.7%

Rent

0.0%

Groceries

-9.0%

Purchasing Power

Compared to United States average · See United States ranking →

Rent Prices in New Orleans

Apartment	City Centre	Outside Centre	You Save
1-Bedroom	USD 1,853/mo	USD 1,198/mo	35%
3-Bedroom	USD 3,053/mo	USD 2,028/mo	34%

Numbeo · 2026-10-02

Prices of Goods & Services in New Orleans

Groceries

Item	Price	Sources
Apples (1kg)	$4.73	2 sources
Beer (0.5L, supermarket)	$3.37	2 sources
Bread (500g)	$3.11	2 sources
Local cheese (1kg)	$14.72	2 sources
Chicken (1kg)	$10.12	2 sources
Cigarettes (Marlboro)	$9.00	2 sources
Eggs (12)	$4.97	2 sources
Milk (1L)	$1.29	2 sources
Potatoes (1kg)	$2.96	2 sources
Tomatoes (1kg)	$4.83	2 sources
Water (1.5L)	$2.61	1 source
Wine (mid-range)	$14.75	2 sources

Apples (1kg)

$4.73

Beer (0.5L, supermarket)

$3.37

Bread (500g)

$3.11

Local cheese (1kg)

$14.72

Chicken (1kg)

$10.12

Cigarettes (Marlboro)

$9.00

Eggs (12)

$4.97

Milk (1L)

$1.29

Potatoes (1kg)

$2.96

Tomatoes (1kg)

$4.83

Water (1.5L)

$2.61

Wine (mid-range)

$14.75

Restaurants

Item	Price	Sources
Draft beer (0.5L)	$5.26	2 sources
Cappuccino	$5.20	2 sources
McMeal	$11.00	2 sources
Cheap meal	$26.60	2 sources
Mid-range dinner (2 people)	$121.25	2 sources

Draft beer (0.5L)

$5.26

Cappuccino

$5.20

McMeal

$11.00

Cheap meal

$26.60

Mid-range dinner (2 people)

$121.25

Clothing & Shoes

Item	Price	Sources
Business shoes (leather)	$119.16	2 sources
Jeans (Levi's 501)	$51.63	2 sources
Sport shoes (Nike)	$90.90	2 sources
Summer dress (Zara/H&M)	$39.54	2 sources

Business shoes (leather)

$119.16

Jeans (Levi's 501)

$51.63

Sport shoes (Nike)

$90.90

Summer dress (Zara/H&M)

$39.54

Leisure

Item	Price	Sources
Cinema ticket	$13.00	2 sources
Gym membership	$67.75	2 sources

Cinema ticket

$13.00

Gym membership

$67.75

Transportation

Item	Price	Sources
Gasoline (1L)	$0.81	2 sources
Taxi start	$3.50	1 source
Monthly pass	$45.50	2 sources

Gasoline (1L)

$0.81

Taxi start

$3.50

Monthly pass

$45.50

Utilities

Item	Price	Sources
Basic utilities (85m²)	$224.83	2 sources

Basic utilities (85m²)

$224.83

Prices in local currency, cross-referenced from multiple independent sources. October 2026.

Multi-Source Comparison

★★ Medium Confidence

New Orleans has a cost of living index of 50.4 (New York = 100, rent included), the average of 2 of 3 data sources. Numbeo is left out because it sits more than 15% away from the others.

50.4

Index

Sources

4.8

Gap between sources

Source Values (NYC = 100)

Numbeo

59.3

left out

Expatistan

48.0

LivingCost

52.8

ShouldIMove price index

No data

ShouldIMove price index: our own basket of real item prices plus rent.

View all 577 cities | Data collected: Expatistan March 2026 · LivingCost October 2026

Cost Indices

Cost of Living

-12.7% Affordable

Rent

-9.7% Affordable

Groceries

0.0% Average

Restaurants

+19.8% Expensive

Purchasing Power

-9.0% Weak

Living in New Orleans: What to Expect

New Orleans is expensive by global standards (ranked #143 of 577 cities). It is 12.7% cheaper than the United States average, based on 82 cities.

Groceries are average and dining out is expensive. The best value is rent and the priciest is restaurants.

Local purchasing power is strong: residents can afford more goods and services than in most cities.

Cost of Living in New Orleans

Rent Prices in New Orleans

Prices of Goods & Services in New Orleans

Groceries

Restaurants

Clothing & Shoes

Leisure

Transportation

Utilities

Multi-Source Comparison

Source Values (NYC = 100)

Cost Indices

Living in New Orleans: What to Expect

How Does New Orleans Compare?

Planning a Move to New Orleans?