dayblip

New Orleans vs St. Louis

Cost of living comparison — C2ER 2024-2025 data

Compare a different city:

VS

QUICK ANSWER

St. Louis is 10% cheaper than New Orleans overall.New Orleans has a cost of living index of 98 vs St. Louis at 88 (national average = 100). The biggest difference is housing New Orleans costs 29% more.

Pierre
Built by Pierre — MBA, Business Strategist & AI Consultant, Founder of DayblipAbout the author →
New Orleans
LA
98
COLI index
VS
St. Louis
MO
88
COLI index

Category Breakdown

CategoryNew OrleansSt. LouisDifference
Overall COLI9888-10%
Housing11280-29%
Groceries103101-2%
Transport102100-2%
Healthcare103102-1%
Utilities113107-5%

Median 1BR Rent

New Orleans
$1,400/mo
St. Louis
$1,050/mo

Median Home Price

New Orleans
$250,000
St. Louis
$205,000

Median Household Income

New Orleans
$45,615
St. Louis
$48,438

Share Your Result

Surprised by this number? Share it with friends and family

Frequently Asked Questions

St. Louis is cheaper to live in overall. New Orleans has a cost of living index of 98 while St. Louis has an index of 88, where 100 represents the US national average. St. Louis is 10% cheaper than New Orleans overall.

The median 1-bedroom rent in New Orleans is $1,400 per month compared to $1,050 in St. Louis. The median home price in New Orleans is $250,000 versus $205,000 in St. Louis. Housing is typically the largest factor in cost of living differences between cities.

New Orleans has a cost of living index of 98 and St. Louis has an index of 88, both measured against a US national average of 100. An index above 100 means more expensive than the national average — below 100 means cheaper.

To maintain the same purchasing power as a salary in New Orleans, multiply by 0.90. For example a $75,000 salary in New Orleans is equivalent to approximately $67,347 in St. Louis.

New Orleans has a median household income of $45,615 per year versus $48,438 in St. Louis. Higher incomes must be weighed against cost of living. Use the Dayblip salary tools to see specific job salaries in both cities.

Whether moving from New Orleans to St. Louis is worthwhile depends on your salary, lifestyle, and priorities. St. Louis is 10% cheaper overall — with the biggest difference in housing. Use the Dayblip cost of living calculator to enter your specific salary and see the exact dollar impact.

Last updated: June 2026

Methodology: Cost of living indices from C2ER Cost of Living Index 2024-2025. Rent data from Zillow December 2024. Home price data from Zillow Home Value Index December 2024. Household income from US Census Bureau ACS 2023. National average COLI = 100. Data updated annually.