City comparison
Yes. Seattle's crime index is 252 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 216 versus 393, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Seattle and 2023 FBI data for New Orleans.
New Orleans is cheaper. Median rent is $1,251 a month versus $2,030 in Seattle.
The income gap between Seattle and New Orleans is significant: $123,860 median household versus $56,631. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,030 in Seattle and $1,251 in New Orleans.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. New Orleans costs less and Seattle 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
Seattle and New Orleans are 2,099 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,030 a month in Seattle to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, down $779 a month (38%).
Median household income goes from $123,860 in Seattle to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $67,229 (54%).
The crime index goes from 252 in Seattle to 350 in New Orleans, up 98 points (39%).
The move
New Orleans and Seattle are 2,099 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $2,030 a month in Seattle, up $779 a month (62%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $123,860 in Seattle, up $67,229 (119%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 252 in Seattle, down 98 points (28%).
Seattle, WA
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 Seattle and New Orleans? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
38% cheaper
New Orleans rent is 38% cheaper than Seattle
Seattle
$2,030/mo
New Orleans
Winner$1,251/mo
Typical rent runs $1,251 a month in New Orleans versus $2,030 in Seattle, so New Orleans is 38% cheaper. That's roughly $779/month back in your pocket ($9,348/year). Over five years that's $46,740 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 Seattle, 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
119% higher
Seattle's median income is 119% higher than New Orleans
Seattle
Winner$123,860
New Orleans
$56,631
Median household income is $123,860 in Seattle versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 119% higher in Seattle (about $67,229 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, Seattle 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
28% lower crime
Seattle's crime index is 28% lower than New Orleans
Seattle
Winner252 (100 = avg)
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Seattle's crime index is 252 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 28% lower in Seattle. 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, Seattle 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
39% more comfortable
New Orleans weather is 39% more comfortable than Seattle
Seattle
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
New Orleans
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Seattle averages about 55°F (62°F highs); New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Seattle averages around 55°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 39% 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 Seattle 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
Seattle is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 119% higher here ($123,860). Start with Seattle if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Seattle is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 28% lower than New Orleans (252 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 38% 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 Seattle on this page's weather index by 39%. Seattle may pay more or cost less, but New Orleans is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
New Orleans is cheaper on rent ($1,251/month vs $2,030), but Seattle's $123,860 median income beats New Orleans's $56,631 by 54%. Remote workers paid on Seattle scales can make that trade; local-market earners often cannot.
Seattle still pays more locally ($123,860 median income vs $56,631), which can offset the lease if your field pays Seattle rates.
Weather averages land near 55°F in Seattle and 73°F in New Orleans.
Most movers who prioritize local pay land in Seattle; New Orleans only makes sense when $1,251/month housing savings outweigh $123,860 median pay in your field.
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 Seattle and New Orleans, plus other cities in WA and LA.
