Wichita vs New Orleans: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Wichita, KS and New Orleans, LA, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Wichita, KS | New Orleans, LA |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 395,951 | 380,408 |
| Median household income | $60,712 | $51,116 |
| Median home value | $166,400 | $281,500 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $915 | $1,162 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
Ad slot:
compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing Wichita, KS and New Orleans, LA comes down to what you value most. Wichita has the lower median home value, and Wichita has the lower median rent.
Wichita has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it cheaper to live in Wichita or New Orleans?
- By median home value, Wichita is the cheaper of the two ($166,400 vs $281,500). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Wichita or New Orleans?
- Median household income is $60,712 in Wichita versus $51,116 in New Orleans, per the US Census Bureau.