New Orleans vs Cleveland: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of New Orleans, LA and Cleveland, OH, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | New Orleans, LA | Cleveland, OH |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 380,408 | 370,365 |
| Median household income | $51,116 | $37,271 |
| Median home value | $281,500 | $87,400 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $1,162 | $851 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
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compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing New Orleans, LA and Cleveland, OH comes down to what you value most. Cleveland has the lower median home value, and Cleveland has the lower median rent.
New Orleans 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 New Orleans or Cleveland?
- By median home value, Cleveland is the cheaper of the two ($87,400 vs $281,500). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, New Orleans or Cleveland?
- Median household income is $51,116 in New Orleans versus $37,271 in Cleveland, per the US Census Bureau.