Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and New Orleans, LA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and New Orleans, LA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 3.2% more expensive than New Orleans, LA without rent, and 14.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 1.6% more expensive than New Orleans, LA without rent, and 12.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
New Orleans, LA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.10 $20.10
$26.47 $26.47
-24.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 $102
$122 $122
-16.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.02 $12.02
$12.07 $12.07
-0.41%
Cappuccino
$5.62 $5.62
$5.55 $5.55
1.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.91 $2.91
3.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.05 $2.05
14.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.98 $6.98
$6.15 $6.15
13.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$8.06 $8.06
4.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
New Orleans, LA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.39 $1.39
-21.58%
White Bread (500g)
$4.12 $4.12
$4.03 $4.03
2.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.57 $5.57
$6.11 $6.11
-8.84%
Eggs
$4.51 $4.51
$4.55 $4.55
-0.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.42 $14.42
$14.91 $14.91
-3.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.02 $15.02
$11.29 $11.29
33.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.98 $18.98
$14.79 $14.79
28.33%
Apples (1kg)
$5.20 $5.20
$5.57 $5.57
-6.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.73 $1.73
2.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$4.71 $4.71
-7.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$5.09 $5.09
-11.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$4.03 $4.03
-36.72%
Onion (1kg)
$2.71 $2.71
$3.27 $3.27
-17.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.49 $2.49
$2.19 $2.19
13.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$3.02 $3.02
-12.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.12 $15.12
$8.77 $8.77
72.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.91 $14.91
$16.42 $16.42
-9.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$2.11 $2.11
17.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 $3.66
$3.45 $3.45
6.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
New Orleans, LA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.57 $2.57
$1.23 $1.23
108.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.3 $74.3
$45.67 $45.67
62.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.30 $3.30
$3.46 $3.46
-4.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 $1.37
$1.45 $1.45
-5.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.96 $24.96
$35.12 $35.12
-28.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 $1.06
$0.82 $0.82
29.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4K $31.4K
$35.5K $35.5K
-11.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$28.3K $28.3K
-7.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
New Orleans, LA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 $187
$234 $234
-20.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.0 $63.0
$59.3 $59.3
6.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.8 $65.8
$71.4 $71.4
-7.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
New Orleans, LA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$75.2 $75.2
$53.3 $53.3
41.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.95 $12.95
$44.00 $44.00
-70.57%
Cinema Ticket
$15.13 $15.13
$12.90 $12.90
17.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
New Orleans, LA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,067 $2,067
$1,553 $1,553
33.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.8K $38.8K
$10.1K $10.1K
283.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
New Orleans, LA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.0 $64.0
$54.2 $54.2
17.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 $50.8
$41.18 $41.18
23.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.3 $97.3
$77.3 $77.3
25.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 $144
$112 $112
28.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
New Orleans, LA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,338 $2,338
$1,796 $1,796
30.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 $1,614
$1,206 $1,206
33.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,764 $4,764
$3,045 $3,045
56.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,762 $2,762
$2,126 $2,126
29.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,766 $3,766
$5,228 $5,228
-27.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,614 $2,614
$1,417 $1,417
84.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
New Orleans, LA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,006 $5,006
$4,058 $4,058
23.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.57
0.46%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: March 3, 2026

Last update for New Orleans, LA: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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