CostIndexUSA

New Orleans, LA vs Tulsa, OK Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

LA
New Orleans
92.6
overall index
$1,575/mo rent
More AffordableOK
Tulsa
89.2
overall index
$1,350/mo rent

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

To match an $80,000 salary in New Orleans, you would need $77,100 in Tulsa. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−20.7%
New Orleans
86
Tulsa
68.2
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
New Orleans
93.7
Tulsa
93.8
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
New Orleans
100.5
Tulsa
100.2
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
New Orleans
90.9
Tulsa
90.7
⚡ Utilities+3.8%
New Orleans
71.2
Tulsa
73.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Tulsa, OK
$77,100
$2,900 less needed in Tulsa

Formula: salary × (89.2 ÷ 92.6) = salary × 0.9633. 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×

Tulsa, OK

Median Home Price
$243,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,350
Housing Index
68.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.0×

New Orleans has 20.7% lower housing costs compared to Tulsa.

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

Tulsa, OK

Median Household Income
$65,600
Per Capita Income
$37,400
Unemployment Rate
4.6%
Population
413,066
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareFinanceManufacturingAerospace

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)

Tulsa, OK
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

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

Tulsa vs other cities

Tulsa, OK
vs
Oklahoma City, OK
Index: 89.2Index: 90.4
Tulsa, OK
vs
Tampa, FL
Index: 89.2Index: 100.9
Tulsa, OK
vs
Wichita, KS
Index: 89.2Index: 88.9
Tulsa, OK
vs
Minneapolis, MN
Index: 89.2Index: 104.8
Tulsa, OK
vs
Arlington, TX
Index: 89.2Index: 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.