New Orleans, Louisiana
Living in New Orleans, Louisiana is about 8% cheaper than the national average, with a cost of living index of 92 (US = 100). Typical rent is $1,577 a month, 18% below the national figure of $1,932, and regular gas costs $3.55 a gallon versus $3.98 nationally as of November 11, 2026. Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance take about 57% of the area's $55,339 median household income.
Key Numbers
Gas (Regular)
$3.55
National: $3.98
Avg Rent (All)
$1,577
National: $1,932
Grocery Inflation
1.77%
Year-over-year
Fast Food Avg
$10.80
Combo meal
Electricity
12.87¢
per kWh · ~$116/mo
Car Insurance
$290/mo
$3,480/yr
Median Household Income
$55,339
56.8% goes to essentials
Car Insurance
Avg $3,480 in New Orleans. Compare rates:
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Some prices above are regional estimates. Submit a receipt from a local store to help us show what New Orleans residents actually pay.
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Find Apartments
Avg rent $1,577/mo in New Orleans. Browse listings:
Grocery Prices
Grocery Prices — 2000 to Present
National BLS averages · submit local prices below ↓
Eggs (dozen)
Bird flu volatility
$0.97 in 2000 → $2.32 BLS avg
Milk (gallon)
$2.79 in 2000 → $4.10 BLS avg
Ground Beef (lb)
$1.48 in 2000 → $6.75 BLS avg
Bread (loaf)
$0.91 in 2000 → $1.86 BLS avg
Chicken Breast (lb)
$1.06 in 2000 → $2.03 BLS avg
Butter (lb)
$3.98 BLS avg
Bacon (lb)
$2.75 in 2000 → $6.69 BLS avg
Cheddar Cheese (lb)
$3.84 in 2000 → $6.13 BLS avg
Pasta (lb)
$0.88 in 2000 → $1.38 BLS avg
Rice (5 lb)
$2.50 in 2000 → $5.50 BLS avg
Coffee (12 oz)
$2.65 in 2000 → $6.94 BLS avg
Orange Juice (64 oz)
Citrus shortage
$5.44 estimate
Potatoes (5 lb)
$1.96 in 2000 → $4.95 BLS avg
Apples (3 lb)
$5.01 estimate
Tomatoes (lb)
$1.44 in 2000 → $2.08 BLS avg
Lettuce (head)
$0.75 in 2000 → $1.96 BLS avg
Cooking Oil (48 oz)
$7.95 estimate
Yogurt (32 oz)
$4.75 estimate
Cereal (family size)
$6.25 estimate
Frozen Pizza
$8.16 estimate
| Item | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2022 | 2026 | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs (dozen)Bird flu volatility | $0.97 | $1.21 | $1.79 | $2.11 | $1.46 | $1.93 | $2.32 | +137.9% |
| Milk (gallon) | $2.79 | $3.30 | $3.24 | $3.76 | $3.25 | $3.79 | $4.10 | +47.3% |
| Ground Beef (lb) | $1.48 | $2.19 | $2.28 | $4.24 | $3.89 | $4.55 | $6.75 | +355.5% |
| Bread (loaf) | $0.91 | $1.00 | $1.36 | $1.48 | $1.35 | $1.55 | $1.86 | +105.2% |
| Chicken Breast (lb) | $1.06 | $1.03 | $1.26 | $1.55 | $1.41 | $1.62 | $2.03 | +91.3% |
| Butter (lb) | — | — | — | — | $3.86 | $3.67 | $3.98 | -4.2% since 2018 |
| Bacon (lb) | $2.75 | $3.37 | $3.63 | $5.59 | $5.50 | $7.22 | $6.69 | +143.1% |
| Cheddar Cheese (lb) | $3.84 | $4.21 | $4.72 | $5.40 | $5.20 | $5.32 | $6.13 | +59.6% |
| Pasta (lb) | $0.88 | $0.94 | $1.15 | $1.26 | $1.23 | $1.12 | $1.38 | +57.1% |
| Rice (5 lb) | $2.50 | $2.98 | $3.77 | $3.46 | $3.58 | $4.16 | $5.50 | +120.6% |
| Coffee (12 oz) | $2.65 | $2.29 | $2.86 | $3.55 | $3.13 | $3.85 | $6.94 | +161.3% |
| Orange Juice (64 oz)Citrus shortageLocal estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $3.72 | $5.44 | +46.2% since 2022 |
| Potatoes (5 lb) | $1.96 | $2.29 | $2.81 | $3.34 | $4.01 | $3.96 | $4.95 | +152.6% |
| Apples (3 lb)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.36 | $5.01 | +14.9% since 2022 |
| Tomatoes (lb) | $1.44 | $1.66 | $1.84 | $2.09 | $2.22 | $1.89 | $2.08 | +44.4% |
| Lettuce (head) | $0.75 | $0.82 | $0.90 | $1.17 | $1.34 | — | $1.96 | +162.3% |
| Cooking Oil (48 oz)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $5.44 | $7.95 | +46.1% since 2022 |
| Yogurt (32 oz)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $3.91 | $4.75 | +21.5% since 2022 |
| Cereal (family size)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.70 | $6.25 | +33.0% since 2022 |
| Frozen PizzaLocal estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $5.77 | $8.16 | +41.4% since 2022 |
Dining & Restaurants
Fast Food Meal
$10.80
Casual Dining
$19.87
Monthly Spend
$356.49
+3.52% YoYChain Restaurant Meal Prices — 2022 vs. Today
Combo meal / typical order for one
McDonald's
2022: $6.70
$10.80
+61.2%Wendy's
2022: $7.56
$11.66
+54.2%Chipotle
2022: $8.10
$12.10
+49.4%Starbucks
2022: $3.83
$5.32
+38.9%Eating out more? Save on groceries with Ibotta and cook at home more often.
Looking for an Apartment in New Orleans?
Average 1BR: $1,293/mo · 2BR: $1,861/mo
Local Workforce
2024 · BLS QCEWTotal Jobs
188k
Median Weekly Pay
$1,300
$68k/yr
Top Sector
Education & Health Services
Household vs Worker Pay
$55k
household median
Employment by Sector — New Orleans
% of local workforce · avg weekly wage · 5-year growth trend
~$66k/yr
~$37k/yr
~$90k/yr
~$54k/yr
~$109k/yr
Source: BLS QCEW 2024 Annual · County FIPS 22071
Highest Paying Sector
Financial Activities
$2,088/wk · $109k/yr
Most Workers (lowest wage)
Leisure & Hospitality
$704/wk · $37k/yr
New Orleans Cost of Living FAQ
Is New Orleans, LA expensive to live in?
New Orleans has a cost of living index of 92, where 100 is the US average, so it is about 8% cheaper than average. It is the most expensive of the 10 Louisiana cities we track.
What is the average rent in New Orleans, LA?
Typical rent in New Orleans is $1,577 a month for all home types as of September 2026, 18% below the national figure of $1,932. One bedroom units average about $1,293 and two bedrooms about $1,861. Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index for the metro area.
Is rent going up in New Orleans?
Rent in New Orleans rose 1.7% over the past year, slower than the 2.7% change nationally.
How much is gas in New Orleans?
Regular unleaded costs about $3.55 a gallon in New Orleans as of November 11, 2026, based on the AAA average for Louisiana. That is 11% below the national average of $3.98.
How much is electricity in New Orleans?
Homes in Louisiana pay an average of 12.9 cents per kWh (EIA), versus 18.4 cents nationally. At 900 kWh a month, a typical bill in New Orleans is about $116.
How much is car insurance in New Orleans?
Full coverage car insurance averages $3,480 a year in Louisiana, or about $290 a month (Bankrate and NAIC state average), compared with $2,150 a year nationally.
How much do you need to live in New Orleans?
Median household income in the New Orleans area is $55,339 (Census ACS 2023, county level). Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance add up to about $31,428 a year, or 57% of that income. Groceries are counted at $5,502 a year, the average household spend on food at home in the region (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey).
How does New Orleans compare with the rest of Louisiana?
Rent in New Orleans is 25% above the $1,265 average across the 10 Louisiana cities we track, and its cost of living index of 92 compares with a state average of 90.
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