

New Orleans vs St. Joseph
$225/mo more in St. Joseph
New OrleansSt. JosephAbout 787 miles apart, a flight.
- St. Joseph leaves you more
- Rent under 30% of pay
- 220 sunny days
Same paycheck, two cities. $2,644/mo in St. Joseph. $2,419/mo in New Orleans. +$2,700 a year.
New Orleans
$2,419
left each month
St. Joseph
$2,644
+$225 vs New Orleans
Compare
Same paycheck, another city.
Next
+$225 / mo
See full breakdown
| Per month | New Orleans | St. Joseph | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $7,000 | $6,758 | −$242 |
| Income and payroll tax | $1,555 | $1,545 | −$10 |
| Take-home pay | $5,445 | $5,213 | −$232 |
| Rent | $1,223 | $754 | −$469 |
| Getting around | $498 | $547 | +$49 |
| Groceries | $360 | $350 | −$10 |
| Healthcare | $405 | $394 | −$11 |
| Utilities | $225 | $219 | −$6 |
| Everything else | $315 | $306 | −$9 |
| Left over | $2,419 | $2,644 | +$225 |
Salary to match New Orleans
$77,000
Gross pay in St. Joseph that leaves the same amount as $84,000 in New Orleans.
Tax difference
−$740
A year, in state and local income tax. Effective rates: 22.2% in New Orleans, 22.9% in St. Joseph.
More about St. Joseph
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.
St. Joseph, MO in full
State income tax topping out at 4.7%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $898 and 220 sunny days; commutes average 19 minutes.
The other way
Start in St. Joseph.
St. Joseph → New Orleans →Questions
Is the cost of living lower in St. Joseph than New Orleans?
For one adult in a one-bedroom, St. Joseph leaves about $225 more a month. A one-bedroom is about $1,223 in New Orleans and $754 in St. Joseph.
Does St. Joseph have state income tax?
St. Joseph is in Missouri, which taxes wage income.
What changes if you move from New Orleans to St. Joseph?
The paycheck is taxed in Missouri. 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 New Orleans and St. Joseph 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.