CostIndexUSA

Bloomington, IL vs New Orleans, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

IL
Bloomington
93.5
overall index
$1,275/mo rent
More AffordableLA
New Orleans
92.6
overall index
$1,575/mo rent

New Orleans is slightly cheaper than Bloomington — 1.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bloomington, you would need $79,200 in New Orleans. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+15.1%
Bloomington
74.7
New Orleans
86
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Bloomington
93.6
New Orleans
93.7
🚗 Transportation3.9%
Bloomington
104.6
New Orleans
100.5
🏥 Healthcare3.9%
Bloomington
94.6
New Orleans
90.9
Utilities20.5%
Bloomington
89.6
New Orleans
71.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in New Orleans, LA
$79,200
$800 less needed in New Orleans

Formula: salary × (92.6 ÷ 93.5) = salary × 0.9904. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Bloomington, IL

Median Home Price
$246,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,275
Housing Index
74.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.1×

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 15.1% higher housing costs compared to Bloomington.

Income & Job Market

Bloomington, IL

Median Household Income
$77,200
Per Capita Income
$44,000
Unemployment Rate
2.6%
Population
78,902
Top Industries
FinanceInsuranceEducationHealthcareManufacturing

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).

Bloomington, IL
5.0×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.