CostIndexUSA

Lansing, MI vs New Orleans, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

MI
Lansing
95
overall index
$1,300/mo rent
More AffordableLA
New Orleans
92.6
overall index
$1,575/mo rent

New Orleans is slightly cheaper than Lansing — 2.5% lower overall cost of living.

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

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+3.0%
Lansing
83.5
New Orleans
86
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Lansing
93.7
New Orleans
93.7
🚗 Transportation−3.8%
Lansing
104.5
New Orleans
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−3.9%
Lansing
94.6
New Orleans
90.9
⚡ Utilities−25.4%
Lansing
95.5
New Orleans
71.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in New Orleans, LA
$78,000
$2,000 less needed in New Orleans

Formula: salary × (92.6 ÷ 95) = salary × 0.9747. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Lansing, MI

Median Home Price
$234,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
83.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.0×

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 3.0% higher housing costs compared to Lansing.

Income & Job Market

Lansing, MI

Median Household Income
$70,000
Per Capita Income
$39,900
Unemployment Rate
4.6%
Population
112,644
Top Industries
GovernmentAutomotiveHealthcareEducationFinance

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).

Lansing, MI
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)

Lansing vs other cities

Lansing, MI
vs
Ann Arbor, MI
Index: 95Index: 100.9
Lansing, MI
vs
Detroit, MI
Index: 95Index: 100.3
Lansing, MI
vs
Flint, MI
Index: 95Index: 93
Lansing, MI
vs
Peoria, IL
Index: 95Index: 91.2
Lansing, MI
vs
Pueblo, CO
Index: 95Index: 91.8

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.