Question 1

Is Houston or New Orleans cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $188/month less than in Houston, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,573/mo in Houston versus $1,331/mo in New Orleans.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Houston vs New Orleans?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $70,500/year before tax in Houston, TX and $69,000/year in New Orleans, LA — a difference of about $1,500. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Houston or New Orleans cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

New Orleans, the same answer as for a single person. Two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child run about $9,579/month in Houston and $8,564/month in New Orleans, including county-median childcare.

Question 4

Should I move to Houston or New Orleans?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. New Orleans costs less month to month, but cost is one of six factors — jobs, safety, climate, housing and amenities all differ too. Compare them against your own income and priorities rather than a single ranking.

Metric	Houston57	New Orleans52
Est. monthly cost (single)	$4,046	$3,858
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$9,579	$8,564
Salary for comfort	$70,500/yr	$69,000/yr
Typical rent	$1,573	$1,331
Median home value	$253,400	$296,400
Median household income	$62,894	$55,339
Unemployment	5.2%	5.5%
Housing score	50	35
Jobs score	36	40
Safety score	4	3
Climate score	100	92
Amenities score	69	52
Population	2.3M	376K
Summer high / winter low	92° / 45°	93° / 45°

Houston, TX vs New Orleans, LA