CostIndexUSA

New Orleans, LA vs Spokane, WA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableLA
New Orleans
92.6
overall index
$1,575/mo rent
WA
Spokane
100.3
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

New Orleans is moderately cheaper than Spokane — 8.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in New Orleans, you would need $86,700 in Spokane. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+12.9%
New Orleans
86
Spokane
97.1
🛒 Groceries+12.1%
New Orleans
93.7
Spokane
105
🚗 Transportation+3.9%
New Orleans
100.5
Spokane
104.4
🏥 Healthcare+4.0%
New Orleans
90.9
Spokane
94.5
Utilities+28.1%
New Orleans
71.2
Spokane
91.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Spokane, WA
$86,700
$6,700 more needed in Spokane

Formula: salary × (100.3 ÷ 92.6) = salary × 1.0832. 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×

Spokane, WA

Median Home Price
$406,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
97.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.9×

Spokane has 12.9% 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

Spokane, WA

Median Household Income
$72,800
Per Capita Income
$41,500
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
228,989
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationGovernmentManufacturingRetail

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)

Spokane, WA
4.1×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.