

Iowa City vs New Orleans
$115/mo less in New Orleans
Iowa CityNew OrleansAbout 853 miles apart, a flight.
- New Orleans costs you more
- Rent under 30% of pay
- 240 sunny days
Same paycheck, two cities. $2,403/mo in New Orleans. $2,518/mo in Iowa City. −$1,380 a year.
Iowa City
$2,518
left each month
New Orleans
$2,403
−$115 vs Iowa City
Compare
Same paycheck, another city.
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−$115 / mo
See full breakdown
| Per month | Iowa City | New Orleans | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $6,542 | $6,977 | +$436 |
| Income and payroll tax | $1,443 | $1,548 | +$105 |
| Take-home pay | $5,099 | $5,429 | +$331 |
| Rent | $911 | $1,223 | +$312 |
| Getting around | $411 | $498 | +$87 |
| Groceries | $347 | $360 | +$13 |
| Healthcare | $391 | $405 | +$14 |
| Utilities | $217 | $225 | +$8 |
| Everything else | $304 | $315 | +$11 |
| Left over | $2,518 | $2,403 | −$115 |
Salary to match Iowa City
$86,000
Gross pay in New Orleans that leaves the same amount as $78,500 in Iowa City.
Tax difference
+$291
A year, in state and local income tax. Effective rates: 22.1% in Iowa City, 22.2% in New Orleans.
More about New Orleans
Iowa City, IA in full
A flat 3.8% state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,085 and 207 sunny days; commutes average 20 minutes.
New Orleans, LA in full
A flat 3% state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,456 and 240 sunny days; commutes average 25 minutes.
The other way
Start in New Orleans.
New Orleans → Iowa City →Questions
Is the cost of living lower in New Orleans than Iowa City?
For one adult in a one-bedroom, New Orleans leaves about $115 less a month. A one-bedroom is about $911 in Iowa City and $1,223 in New Orleans.
Does New Orleans have state income tax?
New Orleans is in Louisiana, which taxes wage income.
What changes if you move from Iowa City to New Orleans?
The paycheck is taxed in Louisiana. Rent stays at the same bedroom count. What you keep is the difference.
Left over each month is take-home pay minus rent and the rest of the bills. The gap between Iowa City and New Orleans changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this · Leftover vs a COL index · Why a cheaper COL% can still lose leftover.
Estimate, not a quote. How we figure this.