CostIndexUSA

New Orleans, LA vs Sarasota, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableLA
New Orleans
92.6
overall index
$1,575/mo rent
FL
Sarasota
102.4
overall index
$1,925/mo rent

New Orleans is moderately cheaper than Sarasota — 10.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in New Orleans, you would need $88,500 in Sarasota. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+48.8%
New Orleans
86
Sarasota
128
🛒 Groceries+2.7%
New Orleans
93.7
Sarasota
96.2
🚗 Transportation+3.3%
New Orleans
100.5
Sarasota
103.8
🏥 Healthcare+3.3%
New Orleans
90.9
Sarasota
93.9
Utilities+23.9%
New Orleans
71.2
Sarasota
88.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Sarasota, FL
$88,500
$8,500 more needed in Sarasota

Formula: salary × (102.4 ÷ 92.6) = salary × 1.1058. 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×

Sarasota, FL

Median Home Price
$445,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,925
Housing Index
128
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.3×

Sarasota has 48.8% 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

Sarasota, FL

Median Household Income
$78,900
Per Capita Income
$45,000
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
57,738
Top Industries
TourismHealthcareReal EstateFinanceArts

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)

Sarasota, FL
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

71% 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.