CostIndexUSA

Allentown, PA vs New Orleans, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

PA
Allentown
100
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
More AffordableLA
New Orleans
92.6
overall index
$1,575/mo rent

New Orleans is moderately cheaper than Allentown — 7.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Allentown, you would need $74,100 in New Orleans. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing−18.5%
Allentown
105.5
New Orleans
86
🛒 Groceries−6.9%
Allentown
100.6
New Orleans
93.7
🚗 Transportation−2.0%
Allentown
102.6
New Orleans
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−2.2%
Allentown
92.9
New Orleans
90.9
⚡ Utilities−33.8%
Allentown
107.6
New Orleans
71.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Allentown to see what you'd need to earn in New Orleans to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
→
Equivalent salary in New Orleans, LA
$74,100
$5,900 less needed in New Orleans

Formula: salary × (92.6 ÷ 100) = salary × 0.9260. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Allentown, PA

Median Home Price
$349,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,750
Housing Index
105.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.6×

New Orleans, LA

Median Home Price
$253,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,575
Housing Index
86
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.4×

Allentown has 18.5% lower housing costs compared to New Orleans.

Income & Job Market

Allentown, PA

Median Household Income
$81,200
Per Capita Income
$46,300
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Population
125,845
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingRetailLogisticsFinance

New Orleans, LA

Median Household Income
$61,000
Per Capita Income
$34,800
Unemployment Rate
5%
Population
383,997
Top Industries
TourismEnergyHealthcareShippingEntertainment

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Allentown, PA
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

New Orleans, LA
3.2×income-to-rent ratio

69% of income left after rent (median)

Allentown vs other cities

Allentown, PA
vs
Erie, PA
Index: 100Index: 91
Allentown, PA
vs
Harrisburg, PA
Index: 100Index: 98.7
Allentown, PA
vs
Lancaster, PA
Index: 100Index: 98.3
Allentown, PA
vs
Fargo, ND
Index: 100Index: 90.9
Allentown, PA
vs
Columbia, MO
Index: 100Index: 89.4

New Orleans vs other cities

New Orleans, LA
vs
Baton Rouge, LA
Index: 92.6Index: 90.8
New Orleans, LA
vs
Lafayette, LA
Index: 92.6Index: 87.2
New Orleans, LA
vs
Lake Charles, LA
Index: 92.6Index: 85.9
New Orleans, LA
vs
Bakersfield, CA
Index: 92.6Index: 100.9
New Orleans, LA
vs
Arlington, TX
Index: 92.6Index: 103.1

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.