Cost of Living Comparison Between New Orleans, LA and Manchester, NH Cost of Living Comparison Between New Orleans, LA and Manchester, NH

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,609 in New Orleans, LA versus $2,846 in Manchester, NH.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,035 in New Orleans, LA versus $4,087 in Manchester, NH.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,462 in New Orleans, LA versus $5,329 in Manchester, NH.

Living in New Orleans, LA costs roughly 8% less than in Manchester, NH, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New Orleans, LA 95% above, Manchester, NH 112% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$26.32 $26.32

$27.65 $27.65

-4.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$124 $124

$83.7 $83.7

47.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.17 $12.17

$11.21 $11.21

8.56%

Cappuccino

$5.53 $5.53

$4.42 $4.42

25.11%

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

$2.90 $2.90

$2.42 $2.42

19.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$2.05 $2.05

1.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.02 $6.02

$6.06 $6.06

-0.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.94 $7.94

$7.36 $7.36

7.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.01 $1.01

31.68%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$2.98 $2.98

37.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.06 $6.06

$4.70 $4.70

28.94%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$4.43 $4.43

-1.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.21 $15.21

$11.71 $11.71

29.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.37 $11.37

$11.09 $11.09

2.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.87 $14.87

$14.24 $14.24

4.42%

Apples (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$5.35 $5.35

-0.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.12 $2.12

-17.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.87 $4.87

$4.33 $4.33

12.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.26 $5.26

$6.09 $6.09

-13.63%

Potato (1kg)

$3.98 $3.98

$2.33 $2.33

70.82%

Onion (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$3.18 $3.18

2.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.21 $2.21

-0.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.31 $2.31

28.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.01 $9.01

$9.85 $9.85

-8.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.95 $16.95

$14.98 $14.98

13.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.93 $1.93

5.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 $3.50

$4.91 $4.91

-28.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.29 $1.29

$1.96 $1.96

-34.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.03 $45.03

$59.5 $59.5

-24.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.96 $3.96

-9.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 $1.51

$0.95 $0.95

58.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.34 $34.34

$30.39 $30.39

13.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.82 $0.82

-4.88%

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

$35.3K $35.3K

$23.6K $23.6K

49.46%

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

$27.9K $27.9K

$25.7K $25.7K

8.40%

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

$236 $236

$217 $217

8.62%

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

$58.5 $58.5

$50.7 $50.7

15.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.3 $71.3

$83.4 $83.4

-14.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.3 $54.3

$42.81 $42.81

26.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$43.08 $43.08

$39.53 $39.53

8.98%

Cinema Ticket

$13.04 $13.04

$11.64 $11.64

12.03%

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

$1,534 $1,534

$1,243 $1,243

23.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.0K $10.0K

$18.0K $18.0K

-44.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$43.44 $43.44

26.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.23 $41.23

$44.80 $44.80

-7.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.8 $74.8

$88.1 $88.1

-15.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 $111

$113 $113

-1.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,805 $1,805

$1,774 $1,774

1.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,183 $1,183

$1,485 $1,485

-20.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,051 $3,051

$2,426 $2,426

25.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,138 $2,138

$2,260 $2,260

-5.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,219 $5,219

$2,884 $2,884

80.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,373 $1,373

$2,977 $2,977

-53.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,974 $3,974

$4,216 $4,216

-5.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.57

6.24

5.29%

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

Last update for New Orleans, LA: May 31, 2026

Last update for Manchester, NH: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,805 in New Orleans, LA and $1,774 in Manchester, NH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manchester, NH pays 6% 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: $124 in New Orleans, LA vs $84.0 in Manchester, NH for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $440 vs $396 per month, with Manchester, NH 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 Manchester, NH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New Orleans, LA is cheaper overall, especially in Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Manchester, NH earns 6% less. 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: $1,805 in New Orleans, LA versus $1,774 in Manchester, NH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,534 in New Orleans, LA versus $1,243 in Manchester, NH. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Shoppers in Manchester, NH pay roughly 11% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

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.

Safety-wise, New Orleans, LA and Manchester, NH are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find New Orleans, LA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Manchester, NH. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.