CostIndexUSA

New Orleans, LA vs Pittsburgh, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableLA
New Orleans
92.6
overall index
$1,575/mo rent
PA
Pittsburgh
94.7
overall index
$1,450/mo rent

New Orleans is slightly cheaper than Pittsburgh — 2.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in New Orleans, you would need $81,800 in Pittsburgh. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing16.3%
New Orleans
86
Pittsburgh
72
🛒 Groceries+7.5%
New Orleans
93.7
Pittsburgh
100.7
🚗 Transportation+2.1%
New Orleans
100.5
Pittsburgh
102.6
🏥 Healthcare+2.1%
New Orleans
90.9
Pittsburgh
92.8
Utilities+51.3%
New Orleans
71.2
Pittsburgh
107.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Pittsburgh, PA
$81,800
$1,800 more needed in Pittsburgh

Formula: salary × (94.7 ÷ 92.6) = salary × 1.0227. 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×

Pittsburgh, PA

Median Home Price
$218,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,450
Housing Index
72
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.5×

New Orleans has 16.3% lower housing costs compared to Pittsburgh.

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

Pittsburgh, PA

Median Household Income
$72,500
Per Capita Income
$41,300
Unemployment Rate
3.7%
Population
302,971
Top Industries
HealthcareTechnologyFinanceEducationManufacturing

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)

Pittsburgh, PA
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.