CostIndexUSA

Fort Collins, CO vs New Orleans, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Fort Collins
101.1
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordableLA
New Orleans
92.6
overall index
$1,575/mo rent

New Orleans is moderately cheaper than Fort Collins — 8.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fort Collins, you would need $73,300 in New Orleans. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing−28.7%
Fort Collins
120.6
New Orleans
86
🛒 Groceries−2.5%
Fort Collins
96.1
New Orleans
93.7
🚗 Transportation−4.1%
Fort Collins
104.8
New Orleans
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−4.1%
Fort Collins
94.8
New Orleans
90.9
⚡ Utilities−13.4%
Fort Collins
82.2
New Orleans
71.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Fort Collins to see what you'd need to earn in New Orleans to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
→
Equivalent salary in New Orleans, LA
$73,300
$6,700 less needed in New Orleans

Formula: salary × (92.6 ÷ 101.1) = salary × 0.9159. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Fort Collins, CO

Median Home Price
$540,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,875
Housing Index
120.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.0×

New Orleans, LA

Median Home Price
$253,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,575
Housing Index
86
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.4×

Fort Collins has 28.7% lower housing costs compared to New Orleans.

Income & Job Market

Fort Collins, CO

Median Household Income
$88,200
Per Capita Income
$50,300
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
164,672
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationHealthcareAgricultureManufacturing

New Orleans, LA

Median Household Income
$61,000
Per Capita Income
$34,800
Unemployment Rate
5%
Population
383,997
Top Industries
TourismEnergyHealthcareShippingEntertainment

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Fort Collins, CO
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

New Orleans, LA
3.2×income-to-rent ratio

69% of income left after rent (median)

Fort Collins vs other cities

Fort Collins, CO
vs
Aurora, CO
Index: 101.1Index: 105.8
Fort Collins, CO
vs
Boulder, CO
Index: 101.1Index: 105.2
Fort Collins, CO
vs
Colorado Springs, CO
Index: 101.1Index: 100.7
Fort Collins, CO
vs
Salinas, CA
Index: 101.1Index: 109
Fort Collins, CO
vs
Clarksville, TN
Index: 101.1Index: 90.9

New Orleans vs other cities

New Orleans, LA
vs
Baton Rouge, LA
Index: 92.6Index: 90.8
New Orleans, LA
vs
Lafayette, LA
Index: 92.6Index: 87.2
New Orleans, LA
vs
Lake Charles, LA
Index: 92.6Index: 85.9
New Orleans, LA
vs
Bakersfield, CA
Index: 92.6Index: 100.9
New Orleans, LA
vs
Arlington, TX
Index: 92.6Index: 103.1

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.