CostIndexUSA

Huntington Beach, CA vs New Orleans, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Huntington Beach
113.6
overall index
$2,550/mo rent
More AffordableLA
New Orleans
92.6
overall index
$1,575/mo rent

New Orleans is significantly cheaper than Huntington Beach — 18.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Huntington Beach, you would need $65,200 in New Orleans. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing49.5%
Huntington Beach
170.4
New Orleans
86
🛒 Groceries12.1%
Huntington Beach
106.6
New Orleans
93.7
🚗 Transportation8.3%
Huntington Beach
109.6
New Orleans
100.5
🏥 Healthcare8.3%
Huntington Beach
99.1
New Orleans
90.9
Utilities55.1%
Huntington Beach
158.6
New Orleans
71.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in New Orleans, LA
$65,200
$14,800 less needed in New Orleans

Formula: salary × (92.6 ÷ 113.6) = salary × 0.8151. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Huntington Beach, CA

Median Home Price
$565,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,550
Housing Index
170.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.5×

New Orleans, LA

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

Huntington Beach has 49.5% lower housing costs compared to New Orleans.

Income & Job Market

Huntington Beach, CA

Median Household Income
$92,000
Per Capita Income
$52,400
Unemployment Rate
5.5%
Population
199,223
Top Industries
TourismTechnologyHealthcareRetailFinance

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).

Huntington Beach, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% 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.