CostIndexUSA

New Orleans, LA vs Springfield, MO Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

LA
New Orleans
92.6
overall index
$1,575/mo rent
More AffordableMO
Springfield
88.6
overall index
$1,275/mo rent

Springfield is slightly cheaper than New Orleans — 4.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in New Orleans, you would need $76,500 in Springfield. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing23.7%
New Orleans
86
Springfield
65.6
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
New Orleans
93.7
Springfield
94.2
🚗 Transportation2.8%
New Orleans
100.5
Springfield
97.7
🏥 Healthcare2.8%
New Orleans
90.9
Springfield
88.4
Utilities+20.5%
New Orleans
71.2
Springfield
85.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Springfield, MO
$76,500
$3,500 less needed in Springfield

Formula: salary × (88.6 ÷ 92.6) = salary × 0.9568. 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×

Springfield, MO

Median Home Price
$260,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,275
Housing Index
65.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.0×

New Orleans has 23.7% lower housing costs compared to Springfield.

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

Springfield, MO

Median Household Income
$62,900
Per Capita Income
$35,900
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
167,882
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingRetailFinance

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)

Springfield, MO
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.