Route comparison
Atlanta, GA vs New Orleans, LA: Cost of Living
Compare the cost of living between Atlanta, GA and New Orleans, LA. See the equivalent salary and median rent powered by BLS Regional Price Parities.
Atlanta, GA
GA
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 98.8
- Housing RPP
- 107.4
- Goods RPP
- 99.3
- 2-BR median rent
- $1,844/mo
Georgia income tax 5.49% flat. No city income tax.
New Orleans, LA
LA
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 93.6
- Housing RPP
- 83.6
- Goods RPP
- 93.9
- 2-BR median rent
- $1,362/mo
Louisiana income tax 1.85%-4.25%.
Equivalent salary
New Orleans, LA is cheaper than Atlanta, GA by about 5.3% (RPP 98.8 to 93.6).
$60,000 in Atlanta, GA
-> $56,842
in New Orleans, LA
$100,000 in Atlanta, GA
-> $94,737
in New Orleans, LA
$150,000 in Atlanta, GA
-> $142,105
in New Orleans, LA
This tool provides estimates only. Equivalent-salary figures are derived from BLS Regional Price Parities (RPP) and HUD Fair Market Rents — they are averages, not guarantees. Actual cost of living varies by neighborhood, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. Not financial advice.
Migration signal: Atlanta, GA vs New Orleans, LA
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Atlanta, GA
- Net people
- +17,865
- Net rank
- #10 of 65
- Top origin share
- 1%
- Top destination share
- 2%
Largest source: Hall County, GA. Largest destination: Hall County, GA.
New Orleans, LA
- Net people
- −15,416
- Net rank
- #53 of 65
- Top origin share
- 5%
- Top destination share
- 10%
Largest source: St. Tammany Parish, LA. Largest destination: St. Tammany Parish, LA.
Rent delta: New Orleans, LA is $482/mo lower for HUD FY2024 2-BR FMR than Atlanta, GA. Housing RPP moves from 107.4 to 83.6.
Migration figures are derived from IRS SOI county-to-county migration data for 2021-2022, mapped to metros via Census CBSA delineation. Small county-to-county flows are IRS-suppressed, so per-metro totals are lower bounds. Source: IRS SOI migration data.
Frequently asked questions
- Is New Orleans, LA cheaper or more expensive than Atlanta, GA?
- New Orleans, LA (RPP 93.6) is cheaper than Atlanta, GA (RPP 98.8) by about 5.3%.
- What salary do I need in New Orleans, LA if I earn $100,000 in Atlanta, GA?
- You would need approximately $94,737 in New Orleans, LA to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Atlanta, GA. Formula: $100,000 x (93.6 / 98.8).
- Which metro had stronger net migration, Atlanta, GA or New Orleans, LA?
- For 2021-2022, Atlanta, GA had a net gain of 17,865 people, while New Orleans, LA had a net loss of 15,416 people. IRS small-flow suppression means these are lower-bound research signals, not complete population-change totals.