CostIndexUSA

Mount Vernon, WA vs New Orleans, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WA
Mount Vernon
102.4
overall index
$2,125/mo rent
More AffordableLA
New Orleans
92.6
overall index
$1,575/mo rent

New Orleans is moderately cheaper than Mount Vernon — 9.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Mount Vernon, you would need $72,300 in New Orleans. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing20.5%
Mount Vernon
108.2
New Orleans
86
🛒 Groceries10.8%
Mount Vernon
105
New Orleans
93.7
🚗 Transportation3.7%
Mount Vernon
104.4
New Orleans
100.5
🏥 Healthcare3.8%
Mount Vernon
94.5
New Orleans
90.9
Utilities25.8%
Mount Vernon
96
New Orleans
71.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in New Orleans, LA
$72,300
$7,700 less needed in New Orleans

Formula: salary × (92.6 ÷ 102.4) = salary × 0.9043. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Mount Vernon, WA

Median Home Price
$567,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,125
Housing Index
108.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.2×

New Orleans, LA

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

Mount Vernon has 20.5% lower housing costs compared to New Orleans.

Income & Job Market

Mount Vernon, WA

Median Household Income
$91,200
Per Capita Income
$52,000
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
36,727
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareManufacturingRetailTourism

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).

Mount Vernon, WA
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

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

69% of income left after rent (median)

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.