CostIndexUSA

Lincoln, NE vs New Orleans, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNE
Lincoln
91.6
overall index
$1,275/mo rent
LA
New Orleans
92.6
overall index
$1,575/mo rent

Lincoln is slightly cheaper than New Orleans — 1.1% lower overall cost of living.

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

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+2.1%
Lincoln
84.2
New Orleans
86
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Lincoln
94.1
New Orleans
93.7
🚗 Transportation+3.0%
Lincoln
97.6
New Orleans
100.5
🏥 Healthcare+2.9%
Lincoln
88.3
New Orleans
90.9
⚡ Utilities−7.3%
Lincoln
76.8
New Orleans
71.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in New Orleans, LA
$80,900
$900 more needed in New Orleans

Formula: salary × (92.6 ÷ 91.6) = salary × 1.0109. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Lincoln, NE

Median Home Price
$289,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,275
Housing Index
84.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.9×

New Orleans, LA

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

New Orleans has 2.1% higher housing costs compared to Lincoln.

Income & Job Market

Lincoln, NE

Median Household Income
$71,200
Per Capita Income
$40,600
Unemployment Rate
2.7%
Population
289,102
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareGovernmentFinanceManufacturing

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).

Lincoln, NE
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

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

69% of income left after rent (median)

Lincoln vs other cities

Lincoln, NE
vs
Omaha, NE
Index: 91.6Index: 91.9
Lincoln, NE
vs
Anchorage, AK
Index: 91.6Index: 105.4
Lincoln, NE
vs
Jersey City, NJ
Index: 91.6Index: 112.6
Lincoln, NE
vs
Plano, TX
Index: 91.6Index: 103.1
Lincoln, NE
vs
Greensboro, NC
Index: 91.6Index: 92.9

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.