CostIndexUSA

New Orleans, LA vs Odessa, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableLA
New Orleans
92.6
overall index
$1,575/mo rent
TX
Odessa
93.9
overall index
$1,550/mo rent

New Orleans is slightly cheaper than Odessa — 1.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in New Orleans, you would need $81,100 in Odessa. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+4.3%
New Orleans
86
Odessa
89.7
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
New Orleans
93.7
Odessa
93.8
🚗 Transportation+0.6%
New Orleans
100.5
Odessa
101.1
🏥 Healthcare+0.6%
New Orleans
90.9
Odessa
91.4
Utilities+16.4%
New Orleans
71.2
Odessa
82.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Odessa, TX
$81,100
$1,100 more needed in Odessa

Formula: salary × (93.9 ÷ 92.6) = salary × 1.0140. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

New Orleans, LA

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

Odessa, TX

Median Home Price
$246,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,550
Housing Index
89.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.2×

Odessa has 4.3% higher housing costs compared to New Orleans.

Income & Job Market

New Orleans, LA

Median Household Income
$61,000
Per Capita Income
$34,800
Unemployment Rate
5%
Population
383,997
Top Industries
TourismEnergyHealthcareShippingEntertainment

Odessa, TX

Median Household Income
$66,600
Per Capita Income
$38,000
Unemployment Rate
1.9%
Population
122,555
Top Industries
EnergyOil & GasHealthcareManufacturingRetail

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

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

69% of income left after rent (median)

Odessa, TX
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% 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.