City comparison
Yes. Los Angeles's crime index is 158 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 202 versus 393, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Los Angeles and 2023 FBI data for New Orleans.
New Orleans is cheaper. Median rent is $1,251 a month versus $1,933 in Los Angeles.
Safety is where Los Angeles and New Orleans split most clearly. Los Angeles scores 192 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,933 in Los Angeles and $1,251 in New Orleans.
This is a genuine split. Los Angeles wins on the job market and safety and New Orleans wins on cost of living. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
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
Los Angeles and New Orleans are 1,669 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,933 a month in Los Angeles to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, down $682 a month (35%).
Median household income goes from $81,939 in Los Angeles to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $25,308 (31%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Los Angeles to 350 in New Orleans, up 192 points (122%).
The move
New Orleans and Los Angeles are 1,669 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $1,933 a month in Los Angeles, up $682 a month (55%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $81,939 in Los Angeles, up $25,308 (45%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 158 in Los Angeles, down 192 points (55%).
Los Angeles, CA
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 Los Angeles and New Orleans? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
35% cheaper
New Orleans rent is 35% cheaper than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
$1,933/mo
New Orleans
Winner$1,251/mo
Typical rent runs $1,251 a month in New Orleans versus $1,933 in Los Angeles, so New Orleans is 35% cheaper. That's roughly $682/month back in your pocket ($8,184/year). Over five years that's $40,920 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 Los Angeles, 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 Los Angeles? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
45% higher
Los Angeles's median income is 45% higher than New Orleans
Los Angeles
Winner$81,939
New Orleans
$56,631
Median household income is $81,939 in Los Angeles versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 45% higher in Los Angeles (about $25,308 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, Los Angeles 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
55% lower crime
Los Angeles's crime index is 55% lower than New Orleans
Los Angeles
Winner158 (100 = avg)
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Los Angeles's crime index is 158 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 55% lower in Los Angeles. 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, Los Angeles 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
Neck and neck
Los Angeles and New Orleans are about even on typical weather.
Los Angeles
77°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
New Orleans
73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Los Angeles averages about 77°F (83°F highs); New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Los Angeles sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. New Orleans sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Los Angeles is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 45% higher here ($81,939). Start with Los Angeles if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Los Angeles is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 55% lower than New Orleans (158 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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to New Orleans
New Orleans is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 35% 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.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Los Angeles scores 46/100 versus 22/100 in New Orleans. Rent is $1,933/month in Los Angeles and $1,251/month in New Orleans, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Los Angeles still pays more locally ($81,939 median income vs $56,631), which can offset the lease if your field pays Los Angeles rates.
Median income is $81,939 in Los Angeles versus $56,631 in New Orleans.
Between Los Angeles and New Orleans, Los Angeles is ahead on safety — 46/100 safety versus 22/100. Lean New Orleans instead when you already know the New Orleans block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Los Angeles and New Orleans, plus other cities in CA and LA.
