Kings County, NY vs Orleans Parish, LA: Cost of Living Difference

Is it cheaper?

Orleans Parish, LA is cheaper than Kings County, NY.

Moving to Orleans Parish, LA is estimated to save $32,846 per year.

Cheaper cost of living

Cheaper County

Orleans Parish, LASave about $32,846 per year.

Salary needed

$50,000 in Kings County, NY is about $29,430 in Orleans Parish, LA.

Biggest drivers

Transport increases by $2,823 per year. Housing saves $15,346 per year.

Housing: $15,346 lower in Orleans Parish, LA

Taxes: $11,479 lower in Orleans Parish, LA

Childcare: about the same in both counties

Healthcare: $3,505 lower in Orleans Parish, LA

Food: $438 lower in Orleans Parish, LA

Transport: $2,823 higher in Orleans Parish, LA

Kings County, NYOrleans Parish, LA
Equivalent salary in Orleans Parish, LA
$29,430
-41.14% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Kings County, NY: $87,226
Median Income in Orleans Parish, LA: $78,575
Living Index in Kings County, NY 91.53%
Living Index in Orleans Parish, LA 59.80%

This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Kings County, NY to Orleans Parish, LA.

* Living index is estimated as (estimated total cost / area median income) * 100. A living index above 100% means modeled costs exceed median income.

Cost of Living Breakdown by Category

Summary

Moving from Kings County, NY to Orleans Parish, LA is estimated to save $32,846 per year. A $50,000 salary in Kings County, NY would have similar purchasing power to about $29,430 in Orleans Parish, LA. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.

This is a -41.14% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $15,346 per year lower (-54.26%); Taxes is $11,479 per year lower (-56.82%).

Below we break down the annual categories behind the difference using Economic Policy Institute 2026 Family Budget data.

Why this comparison matters

These notes use the actual annual cost differences between Kings County, NY and Orleans Parish, LA, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.

Salary needed

A $50,000 salary in Kings County, NY would need to be about $29,430 in Orleans Parish, LA, or $20,570 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.

Affordability vs median income

Modeled annual costs equal about 91.5% of median family income in Kings County, NY and 59.8% in Orleans Parish, LA. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.

Housing

Housing is $15,346 per year lower in Orleans Parish, LA than in Kings County, NY. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Orleans Parish, LA changes their baseline budget.

Food

Food is $438 per year lower in Orleans Parish, LA than in Kings County, NY. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Orleans Parish, LA can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.

Transportation

Transportation is $2,823 per year higher in Orleans Parish, LA than in Kings County, NY. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Orleans Parish, LA.

Healthcare

Healthcare is $3,505 per year lower in Orleans Parish, LA than in Kings County, NY. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Orleans Parish, LA changes provider networks or plan options.

Other necessities

Other necessities is $4,901 per year lower in Orleans Parish, LA than in Kings County, NY. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Orleans Parish, LA help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.

Childcare

Childcare is about the same in Kings County, NY and Orleans Parish, LA, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Orleans Parish, LA, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.

Taxes

Taxes is $11,479 per year lower in Orleans Parish, LA than in Kings County, NY. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Orleans Parish, LA matters even if the headline salary looks similar before deductions.

What changed the most?

The following cards show the annual category differences that most affect the move to Orleans Parish, LA.

Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Orleans Parish, LA
Annual Increase:

$2,823 per year

TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Orleans Parish, LA.

Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Orleans Parish, LA
Annual Savings:

$15,346 per year

HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Orleans Parish, LA.

Breakdown of price percentages per category.

Numbers are average costs per section.

CategoryDifference
Housing-54% lower
Food-9% lower
Transport41% higher
Healthcare-39% lower
Other Costs-47% lower
Childcare0% higher
Taxes-57% lower

In Orleans Parish, LA, modeled annual costs are $46,989 compared with $79,835 in Kings County, NY.

Overall, annual costs are lower in Orleans Parish, LA. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.

In this case Orleans Parish, LA and Kings County, NY are both metropolitan locations.

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Cost of living methodology and data sources
Kings County, NY vs Orleans Parish, LA Cost of Living (2026)