🇺🇸 US

Cost of living: Milwaukee, WI vs New Orleans, LA (2024)

Quick answer

Overall prices in the Milwaukee, WI metro were 96.9 vs 92.6 in New Orleans, LA in 2024 (US = 100), so Milwaukee is 4.7% more expensive than New Orleans; housing rents differ by 13% (97.1 vs 86.0). A $75,000 income in Milwaukee buys about what $71,642 buys in New Orleans, per BEA.

✓ U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024

Price index (US = 100)MilwaukeeNew OrleansMilwaukee vs New Orleans
All items96.992.6+4.7%
Goods93.893.7+0.1%
Housing (rents)97.186.0+12.9%
Utilities91.671.2+28.6%
Other services99.495.7+3.9%
All items, 200897.798.2-0.5%
$50,000 in Milwaukee equals in New Orleans$47,761
$100,000 in Milwaukee equals in New Orleans$95,523
$150,000 in Milwaukee equals in New Orleans$143,284

Related

Last updated 2026-10-16. Data only, not financial or tax advice.

More on this