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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,770 in New Orleans, LA versus $2,695 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,132 in New Orleans, LA versus $4,184 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,495 in New Orleans, LA versus $5,674 in Austin, TX.

Living in New Orleans, LA is roughly 3% more expensive than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New Orleans, LA 102% above, Austin, TX 96% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.85 $25.85

$19.82 $19.82

30.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$130 $130

$83.9 $83.9

55.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.05 $12.05

$12.30 $12.30

-2.03%

Cappuccino

$5.27 $5.27

$5.48 $5.48

-3.83%

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

$2.88 $2.88

$3.72 $3.72

-22.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.36 $2.36

-6.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$7.76 $7.76

-21.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.11 $8.11

$9.14 $9.14

-11.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.13 $1.13

17.70%

White Bread (500g)

$4.04 $4.04

$3.75 $3.75

7.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$3.43 $3.43

83.67%

Eggs

$5.47 $5.47

$4.35 $4.35

25.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.49 $16.49

$13.14 $13.14

25.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.20 $10.20

$14.39 $14.39

-29.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.46 $15.46

$17.20 $17.20

-10.12%

Apples (1kg)

$5.27 $5.27

$4.49 $4.49

17.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 $1.62

$1.44 $1.44

12.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.67 $4.67

15.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.70 $5.70

$4.97 $4.97

14.69%

Potato (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$3.00 $3.00

45.33%

Onion (1kg)

$3.28 $3.28

$2.69 $2.69

21.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.85 $1.85

19.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.18 $2.18

18.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.88 $8.88

$9.45 $9.45

-6.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.79 $16.79

$15.11 $15.11

11.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.89 $2.89

-11.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 $3.98

$3.49 $3.49

14.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.64 $1.64

-25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.42 $49.42

$40.44 $40.44

22.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.53 $3.53

$2.81 $2.81

25.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.58 $1.58

-6.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.93 $34.93

$35.18 $35.18

-0.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$0.90 $0.90

1.11%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$35.9K $35.9K

-0.18%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$27.7K $27.7K

-6.30%

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

$259 $259

$222 $222

16.59%

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

$73.0 $73.0

$58.3 $58.3

25.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.6 $72.6

$69.1 $69.1

5.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.3 $50.3

$66.2 $66.2

-23.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$43.94 $43.94

$14.76 $14.76

197.70%

Cinema Ticket

$12.75 $12.75

$13.78 $13.78

-7.47%

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

$1,587 $1,587

$1,526 $1,526

3.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.2K $10.2K

$21.2K $21.2K

-51.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 $57.9

$54.6 $54.6

6.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.89 $43.89

$44.01 $44.01

-0.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 $87.2

$89.7 $89.7

-2.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$109 $109

9.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,836 $1,836

$1,942 $1,942

-5.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,228 $1,228

$1,258 $1,258

-2.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,045 $3,045

$3,762 $3,762

-19.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,058 $2,058

$2,592 $2,592

-20.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,190 $5,190

$7,403 $7,403

-29.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,370 $1,370

$3,203 $3,203

-57.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,979 $3,979

$5,085 $5,085

-21.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.07

6.44

-5.75%

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

Last update for New Orleans, LA: August 30, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,836 in New Orleans, LA and $1,942 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 28% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $130 in New Orleans, LA vs $84.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $448 vs $417 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

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

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in New Orleans, LA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 28% lower in Austin, TX. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,836 in New Orleans, LA versus $1,942 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,770 per month in New Orleans, LA versus $2,695 in Austin, TX – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 22% less than in New Orleans, LA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX 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 Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in New Orleans, LA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.