City comparison
Yes. New York's crime index is 169 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 195 versus 393, using 2024-2025 FBI data for New York and 2023 FBI data for New Orleans.
New Orleans is cheaper. Median rent is $1,251 a month versus $1,821 in New York.
Climate is the sharpest divide between New York and New Orleans. New York averages 52°F while New Orleans averages 73°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,821 versus $1,251.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. New Orleans costs less and New York 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 York and New Orleans are 1,168 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,821 a month in New York to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, down $570 a month (31%).
Median household income goes from $80,483 in New York to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $23,852 (30%).
The crime index goes from 169 in New York to 350 in New Orleans, up 181 points (107%).
The move
New Orleans and New York are 1,168 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $1,821 a month in New York, up $570 a month (46%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $80,483 in New York, up $23,852 (42%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 169 in New York, down 181 points (52%).
New York, NY
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
New Orleans, LA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing New York and New Orleans? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
31% cheaper
New Orleans rent is 31% cheaper than New York
New York
$1,821/mo
New Orleans
Winner$1,251/mo
Typical rent runs $1,251 a month in New Orleans versus $1,821 in New York, so New Orleans is 31% cheaper. That's roughly $570/month back in your pocket ($6,840/year). Over five years that's $34,200 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 New York, 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 New Orleans? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
42% higher
New York's median income is 42% higher than New Orleans
New York
Winner$80,483
New Orleans
$56,631
Median household income is $80,483 in New York versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 42% higher in New York (about $23,852 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, New York 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
52% lower crime
New York's crime index is 52% lower than New Orleans
New York
Winner169 (100 = avg)
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
New York's crime index is 169 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 52% lower in New York. 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, New York 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
56% more comfortable
New Orleans weather is 56% more comfortable than New York
New York
52°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 64/100
New Orleans
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
New York averages about 52°F (58°F highs); New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs). New York averages around 52°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. New Orleans sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. New Orleans scores 56% 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 New York 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 and professional growth
New York is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 42% higher here ($80,483). Start with New York if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
New York is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 52% lower than New Orleans (169 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
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 31% 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 New York on this page's weather index by 56%. New York may pay more or cost less, but New Orleans is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
New Orleans carries the heavier crime signal on this page (22/100 safety vs 44/100 in New York). That 22-point spread matters more than the $570 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
New York still pays more locally ($80,483 median income vs $56,631), which can offset the lease if your field pays New York rates.
Median income is $80,483 in New York versus $56,631 in New Orleans.
Pick New York when you want the stronger safety signal (44/100). Otherwise, New Orleans's case rests on a New Orleans ZIP you trust at $1,251 rent.
Common questions
Ready to move to New Orleans?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for New Orleans when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for New York and New Orleans, plus other cities in NY and LA.
