City comparison
No. Reno's crime index is 151 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 156 versus 393, using 2023 FBI data for New Orleans and 2024-2025 FBI data for Reno.
New Orleans is cheaper. Median rent is $1,251 a month versus $1,556 in Reno.
Safety is where New Orleans and Reno split most clearly. Reno scores 199 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,251 in New Orleans and $1,556 in Reno.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. New Orleans costs less and Reno 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
New Orleans and Reno are 1,803 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $1,556 a month in Reno, up $305 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $80,760 in Reno, up $24,129 (43%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 151 in Reno, down 199 points (57%).
The move
Reno and New Orleans are 1,803 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,556 a month in Reno to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, down $305 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $80,760 in Reno to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $24,129 (30%).
The crime index goes from 151 in Reno to 350 in New Orleans, up 199 points (132%).
New Orleans, LA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Reno, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing New Orleans and Reno? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
New Orleans rent is 20% cheaper than Reno
New Orleans
Winner$1,251/mo
Reno
$1,556/mo
Typical rent runs $1,251 a month in New Orleans versus $1,556 in Reno, so New Orleans 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 $3,660, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. New Orleans still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Reno.
Planning to buy in New Orleans? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
43% higher
Reno's median income is 43% higher than New Orleans
New Orleans
$56,631
Reno
Winner$80,760
Median household income is $80,760 in Reno versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 43% higher in Reno (about $24,129 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, Reno 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
57% lower crime
Reno's crime index is 57% lower than New Orleans
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Reno
Winner151 (100 = avg)
Reno's crime index is 151 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 57% lower in Reno. 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, Reno 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
9% more comfortable
New Orleans weather is 9% more comfortable than Reno
New Orleans
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Reno
62°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 92/100
New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs); Reno averages about 62°F (71°F highs). New Orleans sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Reno averages around 62°F. New Orleans scores 9% 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 Reno 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 20% 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 Reno on this page's weather index by 9%. Reno 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
Reno is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 43% higher here ($80,760). Start with Reno if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Reno is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 57% lower than New Orleans (151 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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Reno leads on safety (47/100 vs 22/100 in New Orleans). Typical rent is $1,556 in Reno 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 Reno's $1,556, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,251 in New Orleans and $1,556 in Reno.
Between New Orleans and Reno, Reno is ahead on safety — 47/100 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 New Orleans and Reno, plus other cities in LA and NV.
