City comparison
Yes. New Orleans's crime index is 350 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 393 versus 376, using 2023 FBI data for New Orleans and 2024-2025 FBI data for St Louis.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,251 in New Orleans.
New Orleans and St Louis are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,251 in New Orleans and $997 in St Louis, and median household income lands at $56,631 versus $56,160. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
New Orleans is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. St Louis makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone New Orleans is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. St Louis at $997 average has pockets that run $797 and others at $1,397: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
New Orleans and St Louis are 599 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $997 a month in St Louis, down $254 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $56,160 in St Louis, down $471 (1%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 352 in St Louis, up 2 points (1%).
The move
St Louis and New Orleans are 599 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, up $254 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $56,631 in New Orleans, up $471 (1%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 350 in New Orleans, down 2 points (1%).
New Orleans, LA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Louis, MO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing New Orleans and St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
St Louis rent is 20% cheaper than New Orleans
New Orleans
$1,251/mo
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,251 in New Orleans, so St Louis 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 $3,048, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. St Louis 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 New Orleans? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
1% higher
New Orleans's median income is 1% higher than St Louis
New Orleans
Winner$56,631
St Louis
$56,160
Median household income is $56,631 in New Orleans versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 1% higher in New Orleans (about $471 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
1% lower crime
New Orleans's crime index is 1% lower than St Louis
New Orleans
Winner350 (100 = avg)
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
New Orleans's crime index is 350 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 1% lower in New Orleans. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in New Orleans, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in St Louis. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
25% more comfortable
New Orleans weather is 25% more comfortable than St Louis
New Orleans
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Louis
58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs); St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs). New Orleans sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. St Louis averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. New Orleans scores 25% 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 St Louis 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 1% 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.
New Orleans is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 1% lower than St Louis (350 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 St Louis
St Louis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 20% cheaper here at about $997 a month. Choose St Louis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
On weather alone, New Orleans is the warmer market (73°F) and St Louis the cooler (58°F). Typical leases run $1,251 and $997; choose the climate you will tolerate year-round, not just on a visit weekend.
New Orleans still pays more locally ($56,631 median income vs $56,160), which can offset the lease if your field pays New Orleans rates.
Safety scores read 22/100 in New Orleans and 22/100 in St Louis.
Between New Orleans and St Louis, New Orleans is ahead on climate — 73°F typical weather versus 58°F. Lean St Louis instead when you would rather tolerate 58°F than optimize for New Orleans's comfort score.
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 New Orleans and St Louis, plus other cities in LA and MO.
