City comparison
Yes. Colorado Springs's crime index is 200 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 204 versus 393, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Colorado Springs and 2023 FBI data for New Orleans.
New Orleans is cheaper. Median rent is $1,251 a month versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
The income gap between Colorado Springs and New Orleans is significant: $84,818 median household versus $56,631. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,648 in Colorado Springs and $1,251 in New Orleans.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. New Orleans costs less and Colorado Springs 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
Colorado Springs and New Orleans are 1,039 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, down $397 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $28,187 (33%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 350 in New Orleans, up 150 points (75%).
The move
New Orleans and Colorado Springs are 1,039 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, up $397 a month (32%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, up $28,187 (50%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 200 in Colorado Springs, down 150 points (43%).
Colorado Springs, CO
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 Colorado Springs and New Orleans? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
24% cheaper
New Orleans rent is 24% cheaper than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
$1,648/mo
New Orleans
Winner$1,251/mo
Typical rent runs $1,251 a month in New Orleans versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs, so New Orleans is 24% cheaper. That's roughly $397/month back in your pocket ($4,764/year). Over five years that's $23,820 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 Colorado Springs, 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
50% higher
Colorado Springs's median income is 50% higher than New Orleans
Colorado Springs
Winner$84,818
New Orleans
$56,631
Median household income is $84,818 in Colorado Springs versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 50% higher in Colorado Springs (about $28,187 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, Colorado Springs 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
43% lower crime
Colorado Springs's crime index is 43% lower than New Orleans
Colorado Springs
Winner200 (100 = avg)
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Colorado Springs's crime index is 200 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 43% lower in Colorado Springs. 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, Colorado Springs 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
39% more comfortable
New Orleans weather is 39% more comfortable than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
55°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 72/100
New Orleans
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Colorado Springs averages about 55°F (63°F highs); New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Colorado Springs averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. New Orleans sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. New Orleans scores 39% 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 Colorado Springs 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
Colorado Springs is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 50% higher here ($84,818). Start with Colorado Springs if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Colorado Springs is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 43% lower than New Orleans (200 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 24% 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 (73°F) beat Colorado Springs on this page's weather index by 39%. Colorado Springs may pay more or cost less, but New Orleans is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Colorado Springs leads on safety (39/100 vs 22/100 in New Orleans). Typical rent is $1,648 in Colorado Springs and $1,251 in New Orleans; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
New Orleans rent at $1,251/month is still below Colorado Springs's $1,648, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 55°F in Colorado Springs and 73°F in New Orleans.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Colorado Springs; New Orleans only makes sense when you have walked the New Orleans ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,251 rent.
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 Colorado Springs and New Orleans, plus other cities in CO and LA.
