CostIndexUSA

Denver, CO vs New Orleans, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Denver
105.8
overall index
$1,850/mo rent
More AffordableLA
New Orleans
92.6
overall index
$1,575/mo rent

New Orleans is moderately cheaper than Denver — 12.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Denver, you would need $70,000 in New Orleans. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−41.5%
Denver
146.9
New Orleans
86
🛒 Groceries−7.2%
Denver
101
New Orleans
93.7
🚗 Transportation−3.7%
Denver
104.4
New Orleans
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−3.8%
Denver
94.5
New Orleans
90.9
⚡ Utilities−19.0%
Denver
87.9
New Orleans
71.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in New Orleans, LA
$70,000
$10,000 less needed in New Orleans

Formula: salary × (92.6 ÷ 105.8) = salary × 0.8752. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Denver, CO

Median Home Price
$559,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,850
Housing Index
146.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
25.2×

New Orleans, LA

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

Denver has 41.5% lower housing costs compared to New Orleans.

Income & Job Market

Denver, CO

Median Household Income
$103,100
Per Capita Income
$58,800
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
715,522
Top Industries
TechnologyAerospaceEnergyHealthcareTourism

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).

Denver, CO
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)

Denver vs other cities

Denver, CO
vs
Aurora, CO
Index: 105.8Index: 105.8
Denver, CO
vs
Boulder, CO
Index: 105.8Index: 105.2
Denver, CO
vs
Colorado Springs, CO
Index: 105.8Index: 100.7
Denver, CO
vs
Seattle, WA
Index: 105.8Index: 111.1
Denver, CO
vs
Boston, MA
Index: 105.8Index: 108.3

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.