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

🙂 Solo nomad: New Orleans, LA is 5.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 11.9% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: New Orleans, LA is 1.2% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 10.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New Orleans, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$26.12 $26.12
$20.82 $20.82
25.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$125 $125
$100 $100
24.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.8 $11.8
$11.97 $11.97
-1.42%
Cappuccino
$5.53 $5.53
$5.56 $5.56
-0.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 $2.86
$3.11 $3.11
-8.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$2.42 $2.42
-14.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.99 $5.99
$6.86 $6.86
-12.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.87 $7.87
$8.45 $8.45
-6.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New Orleans, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 $1.38
$1.04 $1.04
32.69%
White Bread (500g)
$4.12 $4.12
$4.15 $4.15
-0.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.07 $6.07
$5.52 $5.52
9.96%
Eggs
$4.35 $4.35
$4.65 $4.65
-6.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.74 $14.74
$14.33 $14.33
2.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.07 $11.07
$14.88 $14.88
-25.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.79 $14.79
$19.34 $19.34
-23.53%
Apples (1kg)
$5.49 $5.49
$5.17 $5.17
6.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.71 $1.71
0.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.97 $4.97
$4.41 $4.41
12.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.19 $5.19
$4.51 $4.51
15.08%
Potato (1kg)
$4.02 $4.02
$2.53 $2.53
58.89%
Onion (1kg)
$3.28 $3.28
$2.74 $2.74
19.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.19 $2.19
$2.43 $2.43
-9.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.05 $3.05
$2.7 $2.7
12.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.73 $8.73
$15.19 $15.19
-42.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.39 $17.39
$16.42 $16.42
5.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.1 $2.1
$2.35 $2.35
-10.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 $3.58
$3.7 $3.7
-3.24%
🚌 Getting Around
New Orleans, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.26 $1.26
$2.53 $2.53
-50.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.86 $44.86
$74.1 $74.1
-39.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.55 $3.55
$3.34 $3.34
6.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.47 $1.47
$1.42 $1.42
3.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.58 $34.58
$25.42 $25.42
36.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 $0.79
$1.08 $1.08
-26.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2K $35.2K
$32.4K $32.4K
8.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.9K $28.9K
$26.2K $26.2K
10.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New Orleans, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$233 $233
$188 $188
23.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.4 $58.4
$63.7 $63.7
-8.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.2 $72.2
$65.2 $65.2
10.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New Orleans, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.3 $53.3
$76.7 $76.7
-30.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$42.73 $42.73
$13.03 $13.03
227.94%
Cinema Ticket
$12.86 $12.86
$14.93 $14.93
-13.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New Orleans, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,551 $1,551
$2,063 $2,063
-24.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.1K $10.1K
$39.2K $39.2K
-74.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New Orleans, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.6 $54.6
$64.3 $64.3
-15.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.42 $41.42
$52.4 $52.4
-20.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77 $77
$95.2 $95.2
-19.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 $114
$145 $145
-21.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New Orleans, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,797 $1,797
$2,378 $2,378
-24.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,202 $1,202
$1,584 $1,584
-24.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,976 $2,976
$4,763 $4,763
-37.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,133 $2,133
$2,815 $2,815
-24.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,378 $2,378
$3,588 $3,588
-33.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,037 $2,037
$2,490 $2,490
-18.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New Orleans, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,879 $3,879
$5,275 $5,275
-26.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
6.6
-0.45%

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

Last update for New Orleans, LA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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