CostIndexUSA

Erie, PA vs New Orleans, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordablePA
Erie
91
overall index
$1,075/mo rent
LA
New Orleans
92.6
overall index
$1,575/mo rent

Erie is slightly cheaper than New Orleans — 1.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Erie, you would need $81,400 in New Orleans. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+51.4%
Erie
56.8
New Orleans
86
🛒 Groceries−7.0%
Erie
100.7
New Orleans
93.7
🚗 Transportation−2.0%
Erie
102.6
New Orleans
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−2.0%
Erie
92.8
New Orleans
90.9
⚡ Utilities−33.3%
Erie
106.8
New Orleans
71.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in New Orleans, LA
$81,400
$1,400 more needed in New Orleans

Formula: salary × (92.6 ÷ 91) = salary × 1.0176. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Erie, PA

Median Home Price
$209,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,075
Housing Index
56.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.2×

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 51.4% higher housing costs compared to Erie.

Income & Job Market

Erie, PA

Median Household Income
$60,700
Per Capita Income
$34,600
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
94,831
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareEducationTechnologyRetail

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).

Erie, PA
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

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

69% of income left after rent (median)

Erie vs other cities

Erie, PA
vs
Allentown, PA
Index: 91Index: 100
Erie, PA
vs
Harrisburg, PA
Index: 91Index: 98.7
Erie, PA
vs
Lancaster, PA
Index: 91Index: 98.3
Erie, PA
vs
Yuma, AZ
Index: 91Index: 92.7
Erie, PA
vs
Fayetteville, AR
Index: 91Index: 91.4

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.