CostIndexUSA

New Orleans, LA vs Wichita, KS Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

LA
New Orleans
92.6
overall index
$1,575/mo rent
More AffordableKS
Wichita
88.9
overall index
$1,150/mo rent

Wichita is slightly cheaper than New Orleans — 4.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in New Orleans, you would need $76,800 in Wichita. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing23.0%
New Orleans
86
Wichita
66.2
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
New Orleans
93.7
Wichita
94
🚗 Transportation2.0%
New Orleans
100.5
Wichita
98.5
🏥 Healthcare2.0%
New Orleans
90.9
Wichita
89.1
Utilities+24.3%
New Orleans
71.2
Wichita
88.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Wichita, KS
$76,800
$3,200 less needed in Wichita

Formula: salary × (88.9 ÷ 92.6) = salary × 0.9600. 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×

Wichita, KS

Median Home Price
$213,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,150
Housing Index
66.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.4×

New Orleans has 23.0% lower housing costs compared to Wichita.

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

Wichita, KS

Median Household Income
$67,400
Per Capita Income
$38,400
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Population
397,532
Top Industries
AerospaceManufacturingHealthcareAgricultureEnergy

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)

Wichita, KS
4.9×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.