Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos vs New Orleans-Metairie

Cost of Living Comparison

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$7,241
Rent (2BR) -$22,224
Net Income $40,535

To match your lifestyle in New Orleans-Metairie, you'd need:

$45,827

The Verdict

Cost of Living Index

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos 126.4
New Orleans-Metairie 77.8
Cheaper Avg (100) Pricier

Purchasing Power

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos $32,079
New Orleans-Metairie $57,095

New Orleans-Metairie

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$9,635
Rent (2BR) -$15,972
Net Income $44,393

To match your lifestyle in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, you'd need:

$110,526

The Bottom Line

On a $70,000 salary, you would have $3,858 more per year in New Orleans-Metairie compared to Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos. You'd pay $2,394 more in taxes in New Orleans-Metairie, while housing costs 28% less. The cost of living in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos is 26% above avg, while New Orleans-Metairie is 22% below avg, making New Orleans-Metairie the more affordable city overall. Your $70,000 salary in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos feels like earning $45,827 in New Orleans-Metairie once you factor in taxes, rent, and cost of living. For K-12 education, New Orleans-Metairie has a better pupil-teacher ratio (0:1 vs 0:1). College is more affordable in New Orleans-Metairie ($22,621 vs $15,899 avg in-state tuition).

K-12 Schools

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos
New Orleans-Metairie
Schools
541
261
Enrollment
345,378
160,652
Pupil:Teacher
0:1
0:1
Charter %
13.8%
26.4%
Title I %
0%
0%

Colleges & Universities

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos
New Orleans-Metairie
Institutions
31
25
In-State Tuition
$22,621
$15,899
Out-of-State
$28,276
$17,379
Grad Rate
58.5%
50.8%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos or New Orleans-Metairie more expensive?

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos is more expensive with a cost of living index of 126.4 vs 77.8 (national average = 100).

What salary in New Orleans-Metairie equals $70,000 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos?

You would need to earn approximately $45,827 in New Orleans-Metairie to maintain the same purchasing power as a $70,000 salary in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, after accounting for taxes, rent, and cost of living differences.

How much is rent in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos vs New Orleans-Metairie?

Average annual rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $22,224 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos and $15,972 in New Orleans-Metairie—housing is 28% less in New Orleans-Metairie.