CostIndexUSA

Cary, NC vs New Orleans, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NC
Cary
98.2
overall index
$1,650/mo rent
More AffordableLA
New Orleans
92.6
overall index
$1,575/mo rent

New Orleans is moderately cheaper than Cary — 5.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Cary, you would need $75,400 in New Orleans. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−16.9%
Cary
103.5
New Orleans
86
🛒 Groceries−3.0%
Cary
96.6
New Orleans
93.7
🚗 Transportation−2.5%
Cary
103.1
New Orleans
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−2.6%
Cary
93.3
New Orleans
90.9
⚡ Utilities−20.0%
Cary
89
New Orleans
71.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in New Orleans, LA
$75,400
$4,600 less needed in New Orleans

Formula: salary × (92.6 ÷ 98.2) = salary × 0.9430. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Cary, NC

Median Home Price
$428,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
103.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.6×

New Orleans, LA

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

Cary has 16.9% lower housing costs compared to New Orleans.

Income & Job Market

Cary, NC

Median Household Income
$96,100
Per Capita Income
$54,800
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Population
174,721
Top Industries
TechnologyFinanceHealthcareEducationResearch

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).

Cary, NC
4.9×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

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

69% of income left after rent (median)

Cary vs other cities

Cary, NC
vs
Asheville, NC
Index: 98.2Index: 96.5
Cary, NC
vs
Charlotte, NC
Index: 98.2Index: 97.3
Cary, NC
vs
Durham, NC
Index: 98.2Index: 97.6
Cary, NC
vs
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Index: 98.2Index: 106.4
Cary, NC
vs
Salem, OR
Index: 98.2Index: 103.6

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.