City comparison
No. Pittsburgh's crime index is 158 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 147 versus 393, using 2023 FBI data for New Orleans and 2024-2025 FBI data for Pittsburgh.
New Orleans is cheaper. Median rent is $1,251 a month versus $1,261 in Pittsburgh.
Climate is the sharpest divide between New Orleans and Pittsburgh. New Orleans averages 73°F while Pittsburgh averages 51°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,251 versus $1,261.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. New Orleans costs less and Pittsburgh 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 crime gap is citywide. Pittsburgh has rougher pockets and New Orleans has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
New Orleans and Pittsburgh are 920 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh, up $10 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $65,742 in Pittsburgh, up $9,111 (16%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 158 in Pittsburgh, down 192 points (55%).
The move
Pittsburgh and New Orleans are 920 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, down $10 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $65,742 in Pittsburgh to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $9,111 (14%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Pittsburgh to 350 in New Orleans, up 192 points (122%).
New Orleans, LA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Pittsburgh, PA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing New Orleans and Pittsburgh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
New Orleans rent is 1% cheaper than Pittsburgh
New Orleans
Winner$1,251/mo
Pittsburgh
$1,261/mo
Typical rent runs $1,251 a month in New Orleans versus $1,261 in Pittsburgh, so New Orleans is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $10, or $120 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in New Orleans? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
16% higher
Pittsburgh's median income is 16% higher than New Orleans
New Orleans
$56,631
Pittsburgh
Winner$65,742
Median household income is $65,742 in Pittsburgh versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 16% higher in Pittsburgh (about $9,111 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, Pittsburgh 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
Pittsburgh's crime index is 55% lower than New Orleans
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh
Winner158 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh's crime index is 158 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 55% lower in Pittsburgh. 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, Pittsburgh 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
64% more comfortable
New Orleans weather is 64% more comfortable than Pittsburgh
New Orleans
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Pittsburgh
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs); Pittsburgh averages about 51°F (58°F highs). New Orleans sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Pittsburgh averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. New Orleans scores 64% 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 Pittsburgh if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
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 1% 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 Pittsburgh on this page's weather index by 64%. Pittsburgh may pay more or cost less, but New Orleans is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Pittsburgh is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 16% higher here ($65,742). Start with Pittsburgh if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Pittsburgh 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.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh scores 46/100 versus 22/100 in New Orleans, with matched rent near $1,261/month. I would vet the exact ZIP in New Orleans before trading 24 safety points for an identical lease.
Median income is $65,742 in Pittsburgh versus $56,631 in New Orleans — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
Pick Pittsburgh when you want the stronger safety signal (46/100). Otherwise, New Orleans's case rests on a New Orleans ZIP you trust at $1,251 rent.
Weather averages land near 73°F in New Orleans and 51°F in Pittsburgh.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for New Orleans and Pittsburgh, plus other cities in LA and PA.
