CostIndexUSA

Laredo, TX vs New Orleans, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
Laredo
87
overall index
$1,275/mo rent
LA
New Orleans
92.6
overall index
$1,575/mo rent

Laredo is moderately cheaper than New Orleans — 6.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Laredo, you would need $85,200 in New Orleans. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+44.1%
Laredo
59.7
New Orleans
86
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Laredo
93.8
New Orleans
93.7
🚗 Transportation0.6%
Laredo
101.1
New Orleans
100.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Laredo
91.4
New Orleans
90.9
Utilities11.7%
Laredo
80.6
New Orleans
71.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in New Orleans, LA
$85,200
$5,200 more needed in New Orleans

Formula: salary × (92.6 ÷ 87) = salary × 1.0644. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Laredo, TX

Median Home Price
$213,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,275
Housing Index
59.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.9×

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 44.1% higher housing costs compared to Laredo.

Income & Job Market

Laredo, TX

Median Household Income
$60,200
Per Capita Income
$34,300
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
261,639
Top Industries
International TradeHealthcareGovernmentRetailManufacturing

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).

Laredo, TX
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

75% 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.