CostIndexUSA

Cedar Rapids, IA vs New Orleans, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableIA
Cedar Rapids
89
overall index
$1,100/mo rent
LA
New Orleans
92.6
overall index
$1,575/mo rent

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

To match an $80,000 salary in Cedar Rapids, you would need $83,200 in New Orleans. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+20.4%
Cedar Rapids
71.4
New Orleans
86
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Cedar Rapids
93.7
New Orleans
93.7
🚗 Transportation+3.0%
Cedar Rapids
97.6
New Orleans
100.5
🏥 Healthcare+2.9%
Cedar Rapids
88.3
New Orleans
90.9
⚡ Utilities−15.2%
Cedar Rapids
84
New Orleans
71.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in New Orleans, LA
$83,200
$3,200 more needed in New Orleans

Formula: salary × (92.6 ÷ 89) = salary × 1.0404. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Cedar Rapids, IA

Median Home Price
$230,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
71.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.4×

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 20.4% higher housing costs compared to Cedar Rapids.

Income & Job Market

Cedar Rapids, IA

Median Household Income
$73,600
Per Capita Income
$42,000
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
133,562
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareFinanceTechnologyAgriculture

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).

Cedar Rapids, IA
5.6×income-to-rent ratio

82% of income left after rent (median)

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

69% of income left after rent (median)

Cedar Rapids vs other cities

Cedar Rapids, IA
vs
Davenport, IA
Index: 89Index: 89.1
Cedar Rapids, IA
vs
Des Moines, IA
Index: 89Index: 91.7
Cedar Rapids, IA
vs
Iowa City, IA
Index: 89Index: 91.5
Cedar Rapids, IA
vs
Midland, TX
Index: 89Index: 95.8
Cedar Rapids, IA
vs
Columbia, SC
Index: 89Index: 93.7

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.