CostIndexUSA

Idaho Falls, ID vs New Orleans, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

ID
Idaho Falls
94.4
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
More AffordableLA
New Orleans
92.6
overall index
$1,575/mo rent

New Orleans is slightly cheaper than Idaho Falls — 1.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Idaho Falls, you would need $78,500 in New Orleans. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+2.4%
Idaho Falls
84
New Orleans
86
🛒 Groceries2.6%
Idaho Falls
96.2
New Orleans
93.7
🚗 Transportation3.3%
Idaho Falls
103.9
New Orleans
100.5
🏥 Healthcare3.3%
Idaho Falls
94
New Orleans
90.9
Utilities+2.2%
Idaho Falls
69.7
New Orleans
71.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in New Orleans, LA
$78,500
$1,500 less needed in New Orleans

Formula: salary × (92.6 ÷ 94.4) = salary × 0.9809. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Idaho Falls, ID

Median Home Price
$399,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
84
Price-to-Rent Ratio
23.8×

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 2.4% higher housing costs compared to Idaho Falls.

Income & Job Market

Idaho Falls, ID

Median Household Income
$75,800
Per Capita Income
$43,200
Unemployment Rate
2.1%
Population
64,818
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareAgricultureRetailGovernment

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).

Idaho Falls, ID
4.5×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)

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.