City comparison
Miami, FL vs New Orleans, LA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Miami, FL are 23.3% higher than in New Orleans, LA. Someone earning $100,000 in New Orleans, LA would need about $123,300 in Miami, FL to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,995 a month in Miami, FL versus $1,113 in New Orleans, LA. On $100,000, that's 30% of take-home pay in Miami, FL and 17% in New Orleans, LA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,614 a year higher in New Orleans, LA than in Miami, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −6.1% moving from Miami, FL to New Orleans, LA ($113,356 → $106,437), while prices change by −18.9%. Net effect of the transfer: +15.8% in real buying power.
- Miami, FL: price level 114.2 (much pricier)
- New Orleans, LA: price level 92.6 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Miami, FL | New Orleans, LA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 114.2 | 92.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $81,115 in New Orleans | $123,282 in Miami |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,995/mo | $1,113/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $76,566 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $2,614 (LA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 30% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,640 | $47,290 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, FL HUD Metro FMR Area and New Orleans-Metairie, LA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL and New Orleans-Metairie, LA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Miami | New Orleans |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 155.6 | 86.0 |
| Goods | 103.6 | 93.7 |
| Utilities | 97.2 | 71.2 |
| Other services | 109.1 | 95.7 |
| Overall | 114.2 | 92.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Miami, FL → New Orleans, LA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +23.3%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$2,614/yr.
100 Strong offer
New Orleans, LA → Miami, FL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −18.9%; rent takes 30% of take-home; state tax −$2,614/yr.
30 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Miami, FL is in the Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL pay area; New Orleans, LA is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Miami, FL to New Orleans, LA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Miami, FL | New Orleans, LA | Real change, Miami → New Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $65,735 | $61,722 | +15.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $79,533 | $74,678 | +15.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $95,326 | $89,508 | +15.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $113,356 | $106,437 | +15.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $133,953 | $125,776 | +15.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Miami, FL | New Orleans, LA | New Orleans pay in Miami dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $58,300 | $60,350 | $74,400 (+27.6%) |
| Software Developers | $132,650 | $106,950 | $131,850 (−0.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,920 | $77,940 | $96,086 (+18.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $91,380 | $81,850 | $100,906 (+10.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.