City comparison
Yes. Atlanta's crime index is 197 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 193 versus 393, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Atlanta and 2023 FBI data for New Orleans.
New Orleans is cheaper. Median rent is $1,251 a month versus $1,711 in Atlanta.
The income gap between Atlanta and New Orleans is significant: $85,652 median household versus $56,631. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,711 in Atlanta and $1,251 in New Orleans.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. New Orleans costs less and Atlanta pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. New Orleans at $1,251 average has pockets that run $1,051 and others at $1,651: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Atlanta and New Orleans are 424 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,711 a month in Atlanta to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, down $460 a month (27%).
Median household income goes from $85,652 in Atlanta to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $29,021 (34%).
The crime index goes from 197 in Atlanta to 350 in New Orleans, up 153 points (78%).
The move
New Orleans and Atlanta are 424 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $1,711 a month in Atlanta, up $460 a month (37%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $85,652 in Atlanta, up $29,021 (51%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 197 in Atlanta, down 153 points (44%).
Atlanta, GA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
New Orleans, LA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Atlanta and New Orleans? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
27% cheaper
New Orleans rent is 27% cheaper than Atlanta
Atlanta
$1,711/mo
New Orleans
Winner$1,251/mo
Typical rent runs $1,251 a month in New Orleans versus $1,711 in Atlanta, so New Orleans is 27% cheaper. That's roughly $460/month back in your pocket ($5,520/year). Over five years that's $27,600 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Atlanta, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, New Orleans is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in New Orleans? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
51% higher
Atlanta's median income is 51% higher than New Orleans
Atlanta
Winner$85,652
New Orleans
$56,631
Median household income is $85,652 in Atlanta versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 51% higher in Atlanta (about $29,021 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Atlanta is the stronger labor market on paper. New Orleans can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
44% lower crime
Atlanta's crime index is 44% lower than New Orleans
Atlanta
Winner197 (100 = avg)
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Atlanta's crime index is 197 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 44% lower in Atlanta. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Atlanta is the easier city. New Orleans can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
New Orleans weather is 12% more comfortable than Atlanta
Atlanta
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
New Orleans
Winner68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Atlanta averages about 61°F (70°F highs); New Orleans averages about 68°F (76°F highs). Atlanta averages around 61°F. New Orleans sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. New Orleans scores 12% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Atlanta if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Atlanta is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 51% higher here ($85,652). Start with Atlanta if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Atlanta is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 44% lower than New Orleans (197 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
New Orleans is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 27% cheaper here at about $1,251 a month. Choose New Orleans if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick New Orleans if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (68°F) beat Atlanta on this page's weather index by 12%. Atlanta may pay more or cost less, but New Orleans is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
New Orleans carries the heavier crime signal on this page (22/100 safety vs 39/100 in Atlanta). That 17-point spread matters more than the $460 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
New Orleans rent at $1,251/month is still below Atlanta's $1,711, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,251 in New Orleans and $1,711 in Atlanta.
If safety drives your move, Atlanta is the stronger match (39/100 safety versus 22/100). If an employer or family tie already points to New Orleans, treat $1,251/month rent and $56,631 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for New Orleans when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Atlanta and New Orleans, plus other cities in GA and LA.
