CostIndexUSA

New Orleans, LA vs Racine, WI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableLA
New Orleans
92.6
overall index
$1,575/mo rent
WI
Racine
96
overall index
$1,325/mo rent

New Orleans is slightly cheaper than Racine — 3.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in New Orleans, you would need $82,900 in Racine. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+7.0%
New Orleans
86
Racine
92
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
New Orleans
93.7
Racine
93.8
🚗 Transportation+3.9%
New Orleans
100.5
Racine
104.4
🏥 Healthcare+3.9%
New Orleans
90.9
Racine
94.4
Utilities+26.4%
New Orleans
71.2
Racine
90

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Racine, WI
$82,900
$2,900 more needed in Racine

Formula: salary × (96 ÷ 92.6) = salary × 1.0367. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

New Orleans, LA

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

Racine, WI

Median Home Price
$293,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,325
Housing Index
92
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.4×

Racine has 7.0% higher housing costs compared to New Orleans.

Income & Job Market

New Orleans, LA

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

Racine, WI

Median Household Income
$74,000
Per Capita Income
$42,200
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
78,900
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareRetailTechnologyFinance

Affordability at a Glance

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

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

69% of income left after rent (median)

Racine, WI
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.