CostIndexUSA

Dayton, OH vs New Orleans, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostOH
Dayton
92.7
overall index
$1,300/mo rent
LA
New Orleans
92.6
overall index
$1,575/mo rent

Dayton and New Orleans have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+18.3%
Dayton
72.7
New Orleans
86
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Dayton
93.6
New Orleans
93.7
🚗 Transportation3.3%
Dayton
103.9
New Orleans
100.5
🏥 Healthcare3.3%
Dayton
94
New Orleans
90.9
Utilities25.4%
Dayton
95.4
New Orleans
71.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in New Orleans, LA
$79,900
$100 less needed in New Orleans

Formula: salary × (92.6 ÷ 92.7) = salary × 0.9989. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Dayton, OH

Median Home Price
$360,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
72.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
23.1×

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 18.3% higher housing costs compared to Dayton.

Income & Job Market

Dayton, OH

Median Household Income
$67,100
Per Capita Income
$38,200
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
137,630
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareMilitaryEducationGovernment

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).

Dayton, OH
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)

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.