City comparison
No. Cincinnati's crime index is 231 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 237 versus 393, using 2023 FBI data for New Orleans and 2024-2025 FBI data for Cincinnati.
Cincinnati is cheaper. Median rent is $1,001 a month versus $1,251 in New Orleans.
Climate is the sharpest divide between New Orleans and Cincinnati. New Orleans averages 73°F while Cincinnati averages 53°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,251 versus $1,001.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Cincinnati costs less and New Orleans 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. Cincinnati at $1,001 average has pockets that run $801 and others at $1,401: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
New Orleans and Cincinnati are 708 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $1,001 a month in Cincinnati, down $250 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $52,909 in Cincinnati, down $3,722 (7%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 231 in Cincinnati, down 119 points (34%).
The move
Cincinnati and New Orleans are 708 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,001 a month in Cincinnati to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, up $250 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $52,909 in Cincinnati to $56,631 in New Orleans, up $3,722 (7%).
The crime index goes from 231 in Cincinnati to 350 in New Orleans, up 119 points (52%).
New Orleans, LA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Cincinnati, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing New Orleans and Cincinnati? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Cincinnati rent is 20% cheaper than New Orleans
New Orleans
$1,251/mo
Cincinnati
Winner$1,001/mo
Typical rent runs $1,001 a month in Cincinnati versus $1,251 in New Orleans, so Cincinnati is 20% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,000, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Cincinnati still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in New Orleans.
Planning to buy in Cincinnati? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
7% higher
New Orleans's median income is 7% higher than Cincinnati
New Orleans
Winner$56,631
Cincinnati
$52,909
Median household income is $56,631 in New Orleans versus $52,909 in Cincinnati, so typical pay runs 7% higher in New Orleans (about $3,722 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
34% lower crime
Cincinnati's crime index is 34% lower than New Orleans
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Cincinnati
Winner231 (100 = avg)
Cincinnati's crime index is 231 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 34% lower in Cincinnati. 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, Cincinnati 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
52% more comfortable
New Orleans weather is 52% more comfortable than Cincinnati
New Orleans
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Cincinnati
53°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 66/100
New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs); Cincinnati averages about 53°F (62°F highs). New Orleans sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Cincinnati averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. New Orleans scores 52% 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 Cincinnati 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 plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 7% higher ($56,631), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 73°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Cincinnati is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 20% cheaper here at about $1,001 a month. Choose Cincinnati if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Cincinnati is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 34% lower than New Orleans (231 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.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Cincinnati: Cincinnati scores 35/100 versus 22/100 in New Orleans, with typical rent at $1,001 versus $1,251. I would vet the exact ZIP in New Orleans before trading 13 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (35/100 in Cincinnati vs 22/100 in New Orleans), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,001 in Cincinnati and $1,251 in New Orleans.
Cincinnati clears the bar on safety in this dataset. New Orleans deserves a serious look only when you already know the New Orleans block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
Ready to move to Cincinnati?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Cincinnati when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for New Orleans and Cincinnati, plus other cities in LA and OH.
