CostIndexUSA

New Orleans, LA vs Yakima, 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
Yakima
95.5
overall index
$1,300/mo rent

New Orleans is slightly cheaper than Yakima — 3.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in New Orleans, you would need $82,500 in Yakima. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing15.6%
New Orleans
86
Yakima
72.6
🛒 Groceries+12.1%
New Orleans
93.7
Yakima
105
🚗 Transportation+3.9%
New Orleans
100.5
Yakima
104.4
🏥 Healthcare+4.0%
New Orleans
90.9
Yakima
94.5
Utilities+29.1%
New Orleans
71.2
Yakima
91.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Yakima, WA
$82,500
$2,500 more needed in Yakima

Formula: salary × (95.5 ÷ 92.6) = salary × 1.0313. 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×

Yakima, WA

Median Home Price
$342,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
72.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.9×

New Orleans has 15.6% lower housing costs compared to Yakima.

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

Yakima, WA

Median Household Income
$69,500
Per Capita Income
$39,600
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Population
92,685
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareManufacturingRetailGovernment

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)

Yakima, WA
4.5×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.