New Orleans-Metairie vs Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater

Cost of Living Comparison

New Orleans-Metairie

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

To match your lifestyle in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, you'd need:

$110,323

The Verdict

Cost of Living Index

New Orleans-Metairie 77.8
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater 123.5
Cheaper Avg (100) Pricier

Purchasing Power

New Orleans-Metairie $57,095
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater $31,619

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$7,241
Rent (2BR) -$23,724
Net Income $39,035

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

$45,404

The Bottom Line

On a $70,000 salary, you would have $5,358 more per year in New Orleans-Metairie compared to Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater. You'd pay $2,394 less in taxes in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, while housing costs 49% more. The cost of living in New Orleans-Metairie is 22% below avg, while Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater is 23% above avg, making New Orleans-Metairie the more affordable city overall. Your $70,000 salary in New Orleans-Metairie feels like earning $110,323 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater once you factor in taxes, rent, and cost of living. For K-12 education, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater has a better pupil-teacher ratio (0:1 vs 0:1). College is more affordable in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater ($15,899 vs $15,250 avg in-state tuition).

K-12 Schools

New Orleans-Metairie
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Schools
261
589
Enrollment
160,652
415,023
Pupil:Teacher
0:1
0:1
Charter %
26.4%
15.1%
Title I %
0%
0%

Colleges & Universities

New Orleans-Metairie
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Institutions
25
41
In-State Tuition
$15,899
$15,250
Out-of-State
$17,379
$16,986
Grad Rate
50.8%
60.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is New Orleans-Metairie or Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater more expensive?

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater is more expensive with a cost of living index of 123.5 vs 77.8 (national average = 100).

What salary in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater equals $70,000 in New Orleans-Metairie?

You would need to earn approximately $110,323 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater to maintain the same purchasing power as a $70,000 salary in New Orleans-Metairie, after accounting for taxes, rent, and cost of living differences.

How much is rent in New Orleans-Metairie vs Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater?

Average annual rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $15,972 in New Orleans-Metairie and $23,724 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater—housing is 49% more in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater.