Orleans Parish, LA at a glance
Median household income
$56,631$4,719 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Orleans Parish, LA?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Orleans Parish, LA? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for New Orleans-Metairie, LA HUD Metro FMR Area, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $964 | $11,568 | $38,560 | 20.4% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,113 | $13,356 | $44,520 | 23.6% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,331 | $15,972 | $53,240 | 28.2% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,701 | $20,412 | $68,040 | 36% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,996 | $23,952 | $79,840 | 42.3% |
What a typical income covers in Orleans Parish, LA
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $56,631 a year ($4,719 a month before tax).
What $56,631 leaves after Louisiana taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Louisiana tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Louisiana
Living in Orleans Parish, LA: common questions
What is the median household income in Orleans Parish, LA?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Orleans Parish, LA is $56,631 per year (approximately $4,719 per month).
What is the average rent in Orleans Parish, LA?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $964 for a studio, $1,113 for one bedroom, $1,331 for two, $1,701 for three and $1,996 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Orleans Parish, LA expensive to live in?
Prices there run 7.4% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 92.6, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Orleans Parish, LA?
To keep a $1,331 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $53,240 a year, or $4,437 a month. That is 94% of what the typical household in Orleans Parish, LA earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Orleans Parish, LA?
On the local median income of $56,631 ($4,719 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,360 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,416 for everything else and $944 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,331 takes 56% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Orleans Parish, LA?
Homes in Louisiana paid 13.5¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $121. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.