Question 1

Is New Orleans or Oakland cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $1,466/month less than in Oakland, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,331/mo in New Orleans versus $2,912/mo in Oakland.

Question 2

What salary do you need in New Orleans vs Oakland?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $69,000/year before tax in New Orleans, LA and $105,000/year in Oakland, CA — a difference of about $36,000. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is New Orleans or Oakland 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 $8,564/month in New Orleans and $14,608/month in Oakland, including county-median childcare.

Question 4

Should I move to New Orleans or Oakland?

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	New Orleans52	Oakland40
Est. monthly cost (single)	$3,858	$5,324
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$8,564	$14,608
Salary for comfort	$69,000/yr	$105,000/yr
Typical rent	$1,331	$2,912
Median home value	$296,400	$924,700
Median household income	$55,339	$97,369
Unemployment	5.5%	4.6%
Housing score	35	6
Jobs score	40	36
Safety score	3	0
Climate score	92	100
Amenities score	52	71
Population	376K	438.1K
Summer high / winter low	93° / 45°	72° / 46°

New Orleans, LA vs Oakland, CA