CostIndexUSA

Charleston, WV vs New Orleans, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableWV
Charleston
88.7
overall index
$1,000/mo rent
LA
New Orleans
92.6
overall index
$1,575/mo rent

Charleston is slightly cheaper than New Orleans — 4.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charleston, you would need $83,500 in New Orleans. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+67.3%
Charleston
51.4
New Orleans
86
🛒 Groceries−2.7%
Charleston
96.3
New Orleans
93.7
🚗 Transportation−4.1%
Charleston
104.8
New Orleans
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−4.1%
Charleston
94.8
New Orleans
90.9
⚡ Utilities−22.4%
Charleston
91.7
New Orleans
71.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in New Orleans, LA
$83,500
$3,500 more needed in New Orleans

Formula: salary × (92.6 ÷ 88.7) = salary × 1.0440. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Charleston, WV

Median Home Price
$143,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,000
Housing Index
51.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.9×

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 67.3% higher housing costs compared to Charleston.

Income & Job Market

Charleston, WV

Median Household Income
$55,400
Per Capita Income
$31,600
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
47,068
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareEnergyFinanceEducation

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).

Charleston, WV
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

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

69% of income left after rent (median)

Charleston vs other cities

Charleston, WV
vs
Huntington, WV
Index: 88.7Index: 88.4
Charleston, WV
vs
Morgantown, WV
Index: 88.7Index: 93.3
Charleston, WV
vs
Monroe, LA
Index: 88.7Index: 83.6
Charleston, WV
vs
Hattiesburg, MS
Index: 88.7Index: 87.6
Charleston, WV
vs
San Luis Obispo, CA
Index: 88.7Index: 108.6

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.