CostIndexUSA

Detroit, MI vs New Orleans, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

MI
Detroit
100.3
overall index
$1,450/mo rent
More AffordableLA
New Orleans
92.6
overall index
$1,575/mo rent

New Orleans is moderately cheaper than Detroit — 7.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Detroit, you would need $73,900 in New Orleans. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−9.2%
Detroit
94.7
New Orleans
86
🛒 Groceries−5.2%
Detroit
98.8
New Orleans
93.7
🚗 Transportation−6.7%
Detroit
107.7
New Orleans
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−6.8%
Detroit
97.5
New Orleans
90.9
⚡ Utilities−33.5%
Detroit
107
New Orleans
71.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in New Orleans, LA
$73,900
$6,100 less needed in New Orleans

Formula: salary × (92.6 ÷ 100.3) = salary × 0.9232. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Detroit, MI

Median Home Price
$254,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,450
Housing Index
94.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.6×

New Orleans, LA

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

Detroit has 9.2% lower housing costs compared to New Orleans.

Income & Job Market

Detroit, MI

Median Household Income
$72,600
Per Capita Income
$41,400
Unemployment Rate
5%
Population
672,795
Top Industries
AutomotiveHealthcareTechnologyFinanceManufacturing

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).

Detroit, MI
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

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

69% of income left after rent (median)

Detroit vs other cities

Detroit, MI
vs
Ann Arbor, MI
Index: 100.3Index: 100.9
Detroit, MI
vs
Flint, MI
Index: 100.3Index: 93
Detroit, MI
vs
Grand Rapids, MI
Index: 100.3Index: 95.5
Detroit, MI
vs
El Paso, TX
Index: 100.3Index: 89.9
Detroit, MI
vs
Oklahoma City, OK
Index: 100.3Index: 90.4

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.