Quick answer
St. Louis costs $235/month less overall ($1,580 vs $1,815/mo). But New Orleans's Up to 4.25% state income tax erases some of that gap — on an $80K salary, the tax difference is $560/year.
City Comparison · 2026
New Orleans vs St. Louis
Side-by-side on rent, home prices, taxes, walkability, jobs, and climate — with a straight verdict for each type of mover.
Last updated: April 23, 2026
New Orleans vs St. Louis at a Glance
| Metric | New Orleans | St. Louis |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Monthly Rent | $1,280 | $1,380 ✓ |
| 2BR Monthly Rent | $1,620 | $1,380 ✓ |
| Median Home Price | $250K | $215K ✓ |
| Avg Utilities/mo | $175 | $145 ✓ |
| Avg Groceries/mo | $360 | $335 ✓ |
| Monthly Cost (1BR) | $1,815 | $1,580 ✓ |
| Walk Score | 59/100 ✓ | 52/100 |
| Transit Score | 48/100 ✓ | 38/100 |
| State Income Tax | Up to 4.25% ✓ | Up to 4.95% |
Monthly cost = 1BR rent + utilities + groceries for one person. ✓ marks the lower/better value.
Cost of Living: What the Numbers Actually Mean
Rent gap: St. Louis's 1BR averages $1,100/month vs $1,280 in New Orleans — a $180/month difference, or $2,160/year. That's close enough that neighborhood choice within each city matters more than the city-level average.
State tax: New Orleans charges Up to 4.25% state income tax vs Up to 4.95% in St. Louis. On an $80K salary that's a $560/year difference. On $120K, the gap grows to $5,940 vs $5,100 — important context if you're choosing between tech job offers.
Home buying: Median homes in St. Louis are $215K vs $250K in New Orleans. At a 20% down payment, that's a $7,000 difference in upfront cash — significant at early-career savings rates.
Utilities: New Orleans utilities run $30 more per month than St. Louis. Factor this into your all-in monthly budget.
Walkability, Transit & Daily Life
New Orleans, LA
New Orleans is partially walkable in denser neighborhoods but car-dependent in most areas.
TOP NEIGHBORHOODS
St. Louis, MO
St. Louis is partially walkable in denser neighborhoods but car-dependent in most areas.
TOP NEIGHBORHOODS
Climate
New Orleans
Subtropical: hot and humid May–October (hurricane season), warm and dry November–April
St. Louis
Four seasons; hot humid summers, cold winters with ice storms, severe thunderstorm season
Job Market
New Orleans top industries
St. Louis top industries
Who Should Pick Which City
Move to New Orleans if…
- →You're a hospitality workers
- →You're a culinary professionals
- →You're a musicians / artists
- →You're a culture seekers
Move to St. Louis if…
- →You're a healthcare workers
- →You're a remote workers
- →You're a value-seekers
- →You're a manufacturing professionals
- →You're buying a home and want more for your money
Frequently Asked Questions
Is New Orleans or St. Louis cheaper to live in?
St. Louis is cheaper overall. Monthly costs (1BR rent + utilities + groceries) run $1,580 in St. Louis vs $1,815 in New Orleans — a $235/month difference.
Which city is more walkable — New Orleans or St. Louis?
New Orleans is more walkable with a Walk Score of 59/100 vs 52/100. St. Louis is more car-dependent.
New Orleans vs St. Louis: which has lower state income tax?
New Orleans has lower state income tax (Up to 4.25%). On an $80K salary, that saves $560/year vs St. Louis (Up to 4.95%).
Is New Orleans or St. Louis better for buying a home?
St. Louis has lower median home prices at $215K vs $250K in New Orleans — a $35,000 difference on the median home.