City comparison
Yes. Philadelphia's crime index is 261 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 252 versus 393, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Philadelphia and 2023 FBI data for New Orleans.
New Orleans is cheaper. Median rent is $1,251 a month versus $1,397 in Philadelphia.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Philadelphia and New Orleans. Philadelphia averages 54°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 $1,397 versus $1,251.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. New Orleans costs less and Philadelphia 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. Philadelphia has rougher pockets and New Orleans has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Philadelphia and New Orleans are 1,088 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,397 a month in Philadelphia to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, down $146 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $61,953 in Philadelphia to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $5,322 (9%).
The crime index goes from 261 in Philadelphia to 350 in New Orleans, up 89 points (34%).
The move
New Orleans and Philadelphia are 1,088 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $1,397 a month in Philadelphia, up $146 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $61,953 in Philadelphia, up $5,322 (9%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 261 in Philadelphia, down 89 points (25%).
Philadelphia, PA
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 Philadelphia and New Orleans? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
New Orleans rent is 10% cheaper than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$1,397/mo
New Orleans
Winner$1,251/mo
Typical rent runs $1,251 a month in New Orleans versus $1,397 in Philadelphia, so New Orleans is 10% 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 $1,752, 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 Philadelphia.
Planning to buy in New Orleans? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
9% higher
Philadelphia's median income is 9% higher than New Orleans
Philadelphia
Winner$61,953
New Orleans
$56,631
Median household income is $61,953 in Philadelphia versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 9% higher in Philadelphia (about $5,322 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
25% lower crime
Philadelphia's crime index is 25% lower than New Orleans
Philadelphia
Winner261 (100 = avg)
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Philadelphia's crime index is 261 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 25% lower in Philadelphia. 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, Philadelphia 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
45% more comfortable
New Orleans weather is 45% more comfortable than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
54°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 69/100
New Orleans
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Philadelphia averages about 54°F (61°F highs); New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Philadelphia averages around 54°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 45% 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 Philadelphia 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
Philadelphia is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 9% higher here ($61,953). Start with Philadelphia if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Philadelphia is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 25% lower than New Orleans (261 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 10% 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 Philadelphia on this page's weather index by 45%. Philadelphia may pay more or cost less, but New Orleans is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
On weather alone, New Orleans is the warmer market (73°F) and Philadelphia the cooler (54°F). Typical leases run $1,251 and $1,397; choose the climate you will tolerate year-round, not just on a visit weekend.
With only $146 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,251 in New Orleans and $1,397 in Philadelphia.
Most movers who prioritize climate land in New Orleans; Philadelphia only makes sense when 54°F matches how you want to live year-round.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for New Orleans when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Philadelphia and New Orleans, plus other cities in PA and LA.
