Moving to New Orleans, LA: Your Complete Relocation Guide

A Quick Overview of New Orleans 

The paragon of exuberance and the pinnacle of fun, there is simply no place like New Orleans. This bastion of Cajun and Creole culture on the southeastern tip of Louisiana is a city that lives on the edge — embracing life below sea level with wild celebrations like Mardi Gras and an unmatched verve for everyday life. Cafés and bars seem to never close, with the sounds of trumpets, accordions and washboards filling the air, along with the smell of hot beignets, spicy gumbo and, well, maybe a cocktail or two. 

The Big Easy is the biggest city in the state of Louisiana. The city proper has a population of 384,000, and the metro New Orleans-Metairie area has close to one million. The diverse economy makes for an appealing job market, where industrial, professional and recreational sectors intersect.  

Living in New Orleans means living with history — both the richness of the culture and the tragedies of the past. The extraordinary beauty of the architecture and the landscape is shadowed by Katrina, which still looms large here even 20 years later, and the threat of new storms is ever-increasing.  

The cost of living in New Orleans is more affordable than other coastal cities, though, and it’s impossible to find a city with a more distinctive identity. The allure of the bayous and the lull of the beaches, the colorful clapboards and the iron balconies of the French Quarter. The museums, gardens and theatres. And if all you really want to indulge in is food and drink, this is a city that can accommodate your every need.  

If you are looking for a Southern coastal beauty saturated with music, art and zeal — New Orleans may be the city for you. Learn more about this Bayou State treasure below in our moving guide to New Orleans, where we’ll discuss the housing and job markets, the climate, the best neighborhoods to check out and our favorite things to do.  

Is New Orleans Affordable? Housing, Rent and Cost of Living 

Life in the Big Easy may not always live up to its name, but in some ways, it sure beats the competition. Take the real estate market, for starters. The median home value in Orleans Parish is just $243,750, compared to the national median of $340,200. And those planning on leasing can save big, too. The median gross rent in New Orleans is $1,203 — $200 below the U.S. norm.  

But income levels are also lower in NOLA — the median New Orleans household income is only $55,580, compared to the national rate of $77,719. This can make it more challenging to enter the housing market. New Orleans’ homeownership rate is only 55.9%, compared to the Louisiana state rate of 68.1%, but it’s worth noting that income levels are only slightly higher statewide. 

So, how much do you need to earn to stay afloat in New Orleans? According to the MIT Living Wage Calculator, a single individual in the New Orleans-Metairie area would need to earn $44,377 before taxes to afford these household expenses: 

• Food: $4,463 
• Medical Expenses: $2,893 
• Housing: $12,837 
• Transportation: $9,462  
• Civic Expenses: $2,589 
• Internet/Mobile Services: $1,576 
• Miscellaneous Expenses: $3,770 
• Taxes: $6,787 

What’s the Job Market Like in New Orleans? 

Between energy, academia, healthcare, trade and tourism, New Orleans’s economy is an industrial-strength patchwork that creates a diverse job market for residents.  

Although the unemployment rate has been trending higher than the national average of late — New Orleans’ stood at 4.8% in July 2025 — most industries still fared well between July of 2024 and 2025, and the civilian labor force was comprised of nearly 470,000 residents.  

The largest employment sector in the city, education and health Services, employs 95,800 individuals, thanks to institutions like Tulane, Loyola, Ochsner Health and LCMC Health. Trade, transportation and utilities employs 85,600, and leisure and hospitality and professional and business services employ more than 60,000 apiece.  

New Orleans is also a major manufacturing hub, producing goods for companies as varied as NASA, Zatarain’s and International Paper. And, with dozens of tech companies, engineering firms and finance giants, New Orleans seems to be a burgeoning ground for almost any career.  

Neighborhoods to Know: Where Should You Live? 

No matter where you decide to live in New Orleans, visiting the city’s iconic French Quarter is a must. The narrow, winding streets are cradled by Creole townhomes and overflowing with activity. Visitors clamor to famous spots like Antoine’s, the Carousel Bar and the French Market, where you can order the famous coffee and beignets from Café du Monde — tasty enough to woo even the most tourist-weary resident.  

Still walkable but more family-centric, Uptown and the Garden District are home to the Audubon Park and Zoo, numerous historic mansions and celebrity homes, along with some great boutiques and restaurants. Tulane University and Loyola University are both located in the Fourteenth Ward, so if you’re moving here for an academic job, or you just want to keep a close eye on your college student, this is a great neighborhood to put down roots.  

The Lakeview area borders the expansive City Park, where the New Orleans Museum of Art and the Louisiana Children’s Museum are. On these elegant streets that terminate at Lake Pontchartrain, away from the bustle of the Vieux Carré, close-knit neighborhoods are filled with well-appointed condos and cozy single-families in a wide range of styles, from beachy-contempo to neo-Italianate. On the east side of City Park, more affordable homes can be found in the quiet neighborhoods of Gentilly. 

Home to the Jazz Walk of Fame, Algiers Point lies just across the Mississippi opposite the French Quarter, and what a difference those wide waters can make. This tranquil corner of the Crescent City has plenty of neighborhood eateries to make it unnecessary to go into town, but a pleasant ride on the ferry will get you there in 30 minutes or less.   

You’ll find funkier accommodations in places like Mid-City and the artsy Warehouse District, where day-glow bungalows and refurbished industrial buildings really let the city’s hair down. These near-town neighborhoods are well-connected to downtown by the streetcar, but there are plenty of off-the-radar haunts to keep the locals local here, from Queen Trini Lisa’s incredible Caribbean cuisine to Vessel, a deconsecrated church turned upscale bar and restaurant.   

Lifestyle and Culture: What Makes New Orleans Special? 

If New Orleans loves anything best it’s a party, and they really don’t get any bigger or better than those in the Big Easy. NOLA is known for Mardis Gras, a celebration that starts early, ends late and draws hundreds of thousands of people to the streets. But the city boasts a whopping 130 festivals a year, which means that every three days you can be celebrating something entirely new, from coffee and yoga to Reggae and Zydeco. The Vieux Carré also hosts the French Quarter Fest and the Satchmo Summerfest in August, honoring the inimitable Louis Armstrong. In late spring, revelers welcome the best musicians in brass and blues for Jazz Fest, a celebration more than 50 years in the making, held at the Fair Grounds Race Course. In November, LUNA Fête lights up NOLA’s nights with illuminated public artworks, and December marks the return of NOLA ChiristmasFest, a time when this coastal gem turns into a winter wonderland, with ice skating, ice slides and a visit from the man in the red suit.  

New Orleanians don’t need the excuse of a festival to have a good time, though. Neighborhood joints overflow with the sound of brass bands, jazz quintets and Cajun two-steppers every day of the week. At Mulate’s, you can sample the region’s culinary specialties like crawfish étouffée, fried alligator and red beans and rice, while you whirl your troubles away on the dance floor.  

You won’t find better jazz than at the Maison Bourbon — one of the oldest clubs on Bourbon St., except maybe at The Spotted Cat on Frenchman Street, which does a frisky take on an Old Fashioned with Sazerac Rye and Aperol. Chickie-Wah-Wah is Mid-City’s cozy spot for soul and rock ‘n roll. And, if you’re in the mood for even more classical tunes, the New Orleans Opera and the Symphony of New Orleans will hook you up. The Louisiana Philharmonic’s fall 2025 season includes a tribute to jazz master Ellis Marsalis by his famous sons.  

When you need a treat that doesn’t have a hangover quotient, sugar is New Orleans’s second-favorite vice. We like to get ours in the form of beignets at Café du Monde when friends are visiting and must visit the original, but Café Beignet and the Vintage — located in the Garden District — are both excellent. The other sweet indulgence we find hard to quit in this city that only sleeps between sets are pralines. In the 75 years it’s been open, Leah’s has mastered this difficult confectionary craft, and they also make a bacon-pecan brittle and a peanut-coconut brittle that will make you weep sweet, sweet tears.  

The arts may have an outsized presence in the Crescent City, but sports fans fear not. Two major pro teams call NOLA home — the NBA’s Pelicans and the NFL’s Saints, who claimed victory in Superbowl XLIV against the Colts in 2010. The Big Easy also has two semi-pro soccer teams and a sport you won’t find in every city — Rugby. You can watch the New Orleans Gold at the Shrine on Airline arena in Metairie.  

FAQs About Living in New Orleans   

What’s the weather like in New Orleans? 

There is no denying that New Orleans is a hot and sticky city much of the time, but this is all a part of its charm. Highs will likely be in the 90s from mid-May through Mid-September, and lows won’t feel truly cool until mid-October. While the city isn’t frost-free, temperatures rarely fall below the 32-degree F mark, and snow is a once-in-a-decade event, at most. Let’s hope the streets are never as white as they were during the Blizzard of 2025! Hurricanes, flooding and thunderstorms are the real threats in the Big Easy, which sits nearly two meters below sea level.  Follow the latest guidelines from the city on storm readiness, including clearing debris from your gutters, moving valuables to the second story, installing hurricane shutters/windows and obeying all evacuation orders.  

Do you need a car in New Orleans? 

Public transportation in New Orleans is managed by NORTA, which operates an extensive (and charming) streetcar service, as well as a bus and ferry service, and fares are reasonable. New Orleans is very walkable and bikeable, if you don’t mind knobby roads and pedestrian traffic jams. If you’re living in town, you may find you don’t need a car to commute. If you’re planning on living outside the center of the city, though, you’ll find more people rely on their own four wheels to get around. 

Is New Orleans a good place to retire?  

With a robust healthcare system, vibrant city life and nary a need for a snow shovel, New Orleans can be a great place to retire, especially if you’re looking for a more affordable spot on the water. But storm evacuation orders are real in this city, and throngs of tourists don’t always make for the quietest neighbors. If you’re looking for a place with endless energy and can manage the hassles of hurricanes (including the extra insurance), this may be a good spot when your nine-to-five days are done.  

If you’re looking for places to live in New Orleans, it’s important to thoroughly research neighborhoods or areas in the city you might be interested in living in. Before you decide, make sure you understand the area’s cost of living, commute time, tax rates, safety statistics and schooling information. 

Why Choose United Van Lines for Your New Orleans Move 

Are you ready to move to the Big Easy? United Van Lines has the know-how to get you there. No matter how narrow the historic streets or how wicked NOLA’s weather gets, the experienced movers at United can navigate it all. We’ve been in the business for more than 90 years. 

Get a moving quote now for New Orleans, Louisiana. 

Making a long-distance move to New Orleans? If you’re moving cross-country, United Van Lines can simplify your relocation. Our full-service moving packages are customizable, so you can leave the packing, unpacking, car shipping, storage and debris removal to us. A personal move coordinator will manage all the details of your move, which will be available 24/7 in the MyUnited Move Portal. 

United Van Lines will help you stay organized during your move. Use our week-by-week moving checklist and get pro-tips from our digital moving magazine — House Key — and our moving blog, including articles on the pros and cons of moving by yourself, how to avoid moving stress and the best ways to settle in. If you’re still considering moving to another place besides New Orleans, we’ve got moving guides to trending U.S. cities and states, too. 

Make your move easier by working with United Van Lines. Since our founding in 1928, we’ve helped millions of families move to cities nationwide. Our highly satisfied customers have made us America’s #1 Mover®.  

Get a moving quote for New Orleans now.