City comparison
No. St Petersburg's crime index is 165 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 167 versus 393, using 2023 FBI data.
New Orleans is cheaper. Median rent is $1,251 a month versus $1,663 in St Petersburg.
Safety is where New Orleans and St Petersburg split most clearly. St Petersburg scores 185 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 $1,663 in St Petersburg.
This is a genuine split. New Orleans wins on cost of living and St Petersburg wins on the job market and safety. 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
New Orleans and St Petersburg are 468 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $1,663 a month in St Petersburg, up $412 a month (33%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $75,192 in St Petersburg, up $18,561 (33%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 165 in St Petersburg, down 185 points (53%).
The move
St Petersburg and New Orleans are 468 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,663 a month in St Petersburg to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, down $412 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $75,192 in St Petersburg to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $18,561 (25%).
The crime index goes from 165 in St Petersburg to 350 in New Orleans, up 185 points (112%).
New Orleans, LA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Petersburg, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing New Orleans and St Petersburg? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
25% cheaper
New Orleans rent is 25% cheaper than St Petersburg
New Orleans
Winner$1,251/mo
St Petersburg
$1,663/mo
Typical rent runs $1,251 a month in New Orleans versus $1,663 in St Petersburg, so New Orleans is 25% cheaper. That's roughly $412/month back in your pocket ($4,944/year). Over five years that's $24,720 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 St Petersburg, 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 St Petersburg? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
33% higher
St Petersburg's median income is 33% higher than New Orleans
New Orleans
$56,631
St Petersburg
Winner$75,192
Median household income is $75,192 in St Petersburg versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 33% higher in St Petersburg (about $18,561 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, St Petersburg 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
53% lower crime
St Petersburg's crime index is 53% lower than New Orleans
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
St Petersburg
Winner165 (100 = avg)
St Petersburg's crime index is 165 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 53% lower in St Petersburg. 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, St Petersburg 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
New Orleans and St Petersburg are about even on typical weather.
New Orleans
73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Petersburg
77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs); St Petersburg averages about 77°F (82°F highs). New Orleans sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. St Petersburg sits near 77°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
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 25% 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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
St Petersburg is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 33% higher here ($75,192). Start with St Petersburg if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
St Petersburg is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 53% lower than New Orleans (165 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 St Petersburg: St Petersburg scores 45/100 versus 22/100 in New Orleans, with typical rent at $1,663 versus $1,251. I would vet the exact ZIP in New Orleans before trading 23 safety points for housing savings.
St Petersburg still pays more locally ($75,192 median income vs $56,631), which can offset the lease if your field pays St Petersburg rates.
Median income is $75,192 in St Petersburg versus $56,631 in New Orleans.
St Petersburg 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
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for New Orleans and St Petersburg, plus other cities in LA and FL.
