Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and New Orleans, LA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and New Orleans, LA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,715 in Austin, TX versus $2,675 in New Orleans, LA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,156 in Austin, TX versus $4,136 in New Orleans, LA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,596 in Austin, TX versus $5,598 in New Orleans, LA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 1% more expensive than in New Orleans, LA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, New Orleans, LA 96% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.66 $19.66

$25.02 $25.02

-21.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 $84.6

$128 $128

-34.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$12.19 $12.19

0.90%

Cappuccino

$5.45 $5.45

$5.48 $5.48

-0.55%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 $3.62

$2.90 $2.90

24.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.13 $2.13

13.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.91 $7.91

$6.05 $6.05

30.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.89 $8.89

$7.89 $7.89

12.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.32 $1.32

-18.94%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 $3.68

$4.19 $4.19

-12.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$6.08 $6.08

-45.07%

Eggs

$4.29 $4.29

$5.34 $5.34

-19.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.00 $13.00

$16.29 $16.29

-20.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.24 $14.24

$10.13 $10.13

40.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.68 $16.68

$15.91 $15.91

4.84%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$5.32 $5.32

-15.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.59 $1.59

-10.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$5.28 $5.28

-13.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$5.41 $5.41

-13.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$4.33 $4.33

-37.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$3.20 $3.20

-19.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.89 $1.89

$2.20 $2.20

-14.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.59 $2.59

-15.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.04 $10.04

$8.93 $8.93

12.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.08 $15.08

$16.53 $16.53

-8.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.50 $2.50

16.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.91 $3.91

-15.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.28 $1.28

19.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.52 $41.52

$50.2 $50.2

-17.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 $2.70

$3.52 $3.52

-23.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.45 $1.45

13.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.05 $35.05

$34.93 $34.93

0.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.4K $36.4K

$35.6K $35.6K

2.39%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.1K $27.1K

$25.2K $25.2K

7.23%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$223 $223

$257 $257

-13.30%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$57.4 $57.4

$72.4 $72.4

-20.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.3 $68.3

$74.6 $74.6

-8.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.6 $65.6

$51.9 $51.9

26.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.61 $14.61

$43.58 $43.58

-66.48%

Cinema Ticket

$13.95 $13.95

$12.39 $12.39

12.59%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,523 $1,523

$1,548 $1,548

-1.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.4K $21.4K

$10.3K $10.3K

107.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.1 $53.1

$58.3 $58.3

-8.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.81 $42.81

$42.95 $42.95

-0.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.3 $85.3

$87.2 $87.2

-2.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$121 $121

-15.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,948 $1,948

$1,846 $1,846

5.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,267 $1,267

$1,203 $1,203

5.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,765 $3,765

$3,026 $3,026

24.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,553 $2,553

$2,061 $2,061

23.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,179 $7,179

$5,167 $5,167

38.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$1,356 $1,356

131.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,955 $4,955

$4,063 $4,063

21.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.47

6.07

6.59%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Austin, TX: September 14, 2026

Last update for New Orleans, LA: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,948 in Austin, TX and $1,846 in New Orleans, LA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 22% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $128 in New Orleans, LA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $409 vs $445 per month, with Austin, TX cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Austin, TX vs New Orleans, LA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New Orleans, LA wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making New Orleans, LA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 22% higher in Austin, TX, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,948 in Austin, TX versus $1,846 in New Orleans, LA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,715 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,675 in New Orleans, LA – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in New Orleans, LA runs roughly 21% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. New Orleans, LA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find New Orleans, LA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.