CostIndexUSA

New Orleans, LA vs Santa Fe, NM Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableLA
New Orleans
92.6
overall index
$1,575/mo rent
NM
Santa Fe
98.8
overall index
$1,950/mo rent

New Orleans is moderately cheaper than Santa Fe — 6.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in New Orleans, you would need $85,400 in Santa Fe. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+25.6%
New Orleans
86
Santa Fe
108
🛒 Groceries+2.6%
New Orleans
93.7
Santa Fe
96.1
🚗 Transportation+3.0%
New Orleans
100.5
Santa Fe
103.5
🏥 Healthcare+3.0%
New Orleans
90.9
Santa Fe
93.6
Utilities+7.7%
New Orleans
71.2
Santa Fe
76.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Santa Fe, NM
$85,400
$5,400 more needed in Santa Fe

Formula: salary × (98.8 ÷ 92.6) = salary × 1.0670. 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×

Santa Fe, NM

Median Home Price
$541,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,950
Housing Index
108
Price-to-Rent Ratio
23.1×

Santa Fe has 25.6% 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

Santa Fe, NM

Median Household Income
$78,700
Per Capita Income
$44,900
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Population
84,683
Top Industries
GovernmentTourismArtsHealthcareEducation

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)

Santa Fe, NM
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

70% 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.