City Comparison
New Orleans vs Alexandria
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Alexandria scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
New Orleans
Alexandria
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Alexandria is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
26% lower than in New Orleans.
Housing costs are a major driver: New Orleans's average rent is
69% higher than Alexandria's.
| Metric | New Orleans | Alexandria | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,650 | $974 | +69% |
| Groceries | $420 | $395 | +6% |
| Utilities | $185 | $226 | -18% |
| Transport | $115 | $120 | -4% |
| Healthcare | $240 | $220 | +9% |
| Monthly Total | $2,610 | $1,935 | +35% |
| Cost Index | 96 | 92 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
New Orleans offers 22% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, New Orleans delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in New Orleans is estimated at
$52,000 vs $38,952 in Alexandria.
| Metric | New Orleans | Alexandria |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $61,000 | $50,107 |
| Salary Needed | $52,000 | $38,952 |
| Purchasing Power | 63,542 idx | 54,464 idx |
| Household Income | $56,631 | $47,113 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
New Orleans runs warmer on average — a 71.4°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, New Orleans comes out ahead with 217 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — New Orleans sees 4.2 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | New Orleans | Alexandria |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 71.40°F | °F |
| Summer High | 89.00°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 49.00°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 53.40 in | in |
| Snowfall | 4.20 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 217 | |
| Humidity | 76.00% | 73.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Alexandria has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
4,000 minutes (67 hours) per year compared to New Orleans.
New Orleans scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, New Orleans leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | New Orleans | Alexandria |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 25 min | 17 min |
| Transit Score | 52.0/100 | — |
| Walkability | 58.0/100 | — |
| Traffic Index | 42.00 | |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
New Orleans is the larger city
— approximately 8.2x the population of Alexandria.
From a growth perspective, New Orleans is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Alexandria has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | New Orleans | Alexandria |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 362,154 | 44,060 |
| Pop. Growth | — | — |
| Median Age | 38.8 | 37.6 |
| Unemployment | 4.50% | 4.30% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
New Orleans
Advantages
Average rent in New Orleans is approximately $1,650 per month, remaining below major coastal US metro averages per Zillow 2026 data.
Over 42% of adult residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher, reflecting a well-educated urban population per U.S. Census Bureau ACS data.
World-renowned culinary, music, and festival culture provides an unmatched daily quality of life and entertainment landscape.
Highly walkable and bike-friendly historic neighborhoods like Uptown and the French Quarter reduce daily car dependency.
Major robust healthcare and higher education anchors like Ochsner Health and Tulane University drive stable regional employment.
Drawbacks
Violent and property crime rates remain higher than the national average, requiring vigilant safety precautions per municipal data.
Property and homeowner insurance costs in coastal Louisiana are among the highest in the nation due to hurricane and flood risks.
Summer temperatures and high humidity levels create prolonged periods of intense heat from June through September.
Poverty rate sits at 22.6%, highlighting economic disparities within parts of the city per U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts.
Infrastructure challenges, including street maintenance and localized urban drainage issues, require ongoing municipal management.
Alexandria
Advantages
The overall cost of living in Alexandria is 8% lower than the national average, primarily due to significantly lower housing expenses.
Housing costs are 26% lower than the national average, with a median home price of $175,000 in May 2026.
The average commute time is relatively short at 17.4 minutes, contributing to a better work-life balance.
Alexandria is a regional healthcare hub with at least four major hospitals, and healthcare costs are 11% lower than the national average.
The city's economy is diverse, with a 3.32% job growth rate between 2023 and 2024.
Drawbacks
Alexandria has a very high violent crime rate, 671% above the national average, resulting in an 'F' safety grade.
The city's population is projected to decline by 1.3% annually, indicating a negative growth trend.
Summers are consistently hot, humid, and often described as oppressive.
A significant portion of the population, 27%, lives below the poverty line as of 2024.
The city exhibits high car dependency, with 77.7% of residents driving alone to work.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
New Orleans
#563Louisiana, USA
47.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,650
Avg Salary
$61,000
Cost Index
96
Commute
25 min
Transit Score
52.0/100
Walkability
58.0/100
Sunny Days
217/yr
Avg Temp
71.40°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.50%
Livability
75
Business
67
Alexandria
#541Louisiana, USA
49.1 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$974
Avg Salary
$50,107
Cost Index
92
Commute
17 min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
—
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.30%
Livability
50
Business
60
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