CostIndexUSA

Fort Worth, TX vs New Orleans, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TX
Fort Worth
103.1
overall index
$1,775/mo rent
More AffordableLA
New Orleans
92.6
overall index
$1,575/mo rent

New Orleans is moderately cheaper than Fort Worth — 10.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fort Worth, you would need $71,900 in New Orleans. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−27.1%
Fort Worth
117.9
New Orleans
86
🛒 Groceries−8.9%
Fort Worth
102.8
New Orleans
93.7
🚗 Transportation−4.0%
Fort Worth
104.7
New Orleans
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−4.0%
Fort Worth
94.7
New Orleans
90.9
⚡ Utilities−21.5%
Fort Worth
90.7
New Orleans
71.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in New Orleans, LA
$71,900
$8,100 less needed in New Orleans

Formula: salary × (92.6 ÷ 103.1) = salary × 0.8982. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Fort Worth, TX

Median Home Price
$450,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,775
Housing Index
117.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.1×

New Orleans, LA

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

Fort Worth has 27.1% lower housing costs compared to New Orleans.

Income & Job Market

Fort Worth, TX

Median Household Income
$86,900
Per Capita Income
$49,500
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
918,915
Top Industries
AerospaceManufacturingHealthcareLogisticsFinance

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 Worth, TX
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

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

69% of income left after rent (median)

Fort Worth vs other cities

Fort Worth, TX
vs
Abilene, TX
Index: 103.1Index: 90.4
Fort Worth, TX
vs
Amarillo, TX
Index: 103.1Index: 91.8
Fort Worth, TX
vs
Arlington, TX
Index: 103.1Index: 103.1
Fort Worth, TX
vs
Columbus, OH
Index: 103.1Index: 95.5
Fort Worth, TX
vs
Jacksonville, FL
Index: 103.1Index: 99.5

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.