CostIndexUSA

Bangor, ME vs New Orleans, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

ME
Bangor
96.5
overall index
$1,550/mo rent
More AffordableLA
New Orleans
92.6
overall index
$1,575/mo rent

New Orleans is slightly cheaper than Bangor — 4.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bangor, you would need $76,800 in New Orleans. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+10.7%
Bangor
77.7
New Orleans
86
🛒 Groceries3.6%
Bangor
97.2
New Orleans
93.7
🚗 Transportation7.3%
Bangor
108.4
New Orleans
100.5
🏥 Healthcare7.2%
Bangor
98
New Orleans
90.9
Utilities47.2%
Bangor
134.8
New Orleans
71.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in New Orleans, LA
$76,800
$3,200 less needed in New Orleans

Formula: salary × (92.6 ÷ 96.5) = salary × 0.9596. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Bangor, ME

Median Home Price
$265,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,550
Housing Index
77.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.2×

New Orleans, LA

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

New Orleans has 10.7% higher housing costs compared to Bangor.

Income & Job Market

Bangor, ME

Median Household Income
$66,300
Per Capita Income
$37,800
Unemployment Rate
2.5%
Population
31,753
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationRetailManufacturingGovernment

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).

Bangor, ME
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

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

69% of income left after rent (median)

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.