CostIndexUSA

Columbia, MO vs New Orleans, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMO
Columbia
89.4
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
LA
New Orleans
92.6
overall index
$1,575/mo rent

Columbia is slightly cheaper than New Orleans — 3.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Columbia, you would need $82,900 in New Orleans. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+24.3%
Columbia
69.2
New Orleans
86
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Columbia
94.2
New Orleans
93.7
🚗 Transportation+2.9%
Columbia
97.7
New Orleans
100.5
🏥 Healthcare+2.8%
Columbia
88.4
New Orleans
90.9
⚡ Utilities−17.2%
Columbia
86
New Orleans
71.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in New Orleans, LA
$82,900
$2,900 more needed in New Orleans

Formula: salary × (92.6 ÷ 89.4) = salary × 1.0358. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Columbia, MO

Median Home Price
$308,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,350
Housing Index
69.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.0×

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 24.3% higher housing costs compared to Columbia.

Income & Job Market

Columbia, MO

Median Household Income
$69,400
Per Capita Income
$39,600
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
126,254
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareGovernmentTechnologyFinance

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).

Columbia, MO
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

77% of income left after rent (median)

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

69% of income left after rent (median)

Columbia vs other cities

Columbia, MO
vs
Joplin, MO
Index: 89.4Index: 85.7
Columbia, MO
vs
Kansas City, MO
Index: 89.4Index: 92.5
Columbia, MO
vs
Springfield, MO
Index: 89.4Index: 88.6
Columbia, MO
vs
Fargo, ND
Index: 89.4Index: 90.9
Columbia, MO
vs
Allentown, PA
Index: 89.4Index: 100

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.