Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Orleans, LA
VS
St. Petersburg, FL
🏆 St. Petersburg leads 13 of 23 categories
New Orleans
Louisiana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,116
Violent Crime Index
380⚠ High
Population
380,408 ✓ Larger
St. Petersburg
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$70,333 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
259,343
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Orleans, LA
Pros
Rent averages $248/mo less ($1,162 vs $1,410)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Petersburg
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Cons
Median income trails St. Petersburg by $19,217/yr
Violent crime (1444.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4640.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 4.6%)
St. Petersburg, FL
Pros
57% less violent crime than New Orleans
Households earn $19,217 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (4.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 61°F
Cons
Violent crime (619.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,410/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than New Orleans
Property crime (2458.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
New Orleans
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
St. Petersburg
Median Income
$19,217
$70,333 vs $51,116/yr
St. Petersburg
Violent Crime
57% lower
619.6 vs 1444.1 per 100k
St. Petersburg
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
4.6% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Orleans, LA | St. Petersburg, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $281,500 ✓ Lower | $289,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,162 ✓ Lower | $1,410⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,116 | $70,333 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 24.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 316⚠ High | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 380⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.7% ✓ Higher | 40.6% |
| High School or Higher | 88.7% | 93.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed | PINELLAS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.0°F | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 60.1" | 46.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 380,408 ✓ Larger | 259,343 |
| Median Age | 37.9 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.3% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.6% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 15.9% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Orleans's cost of living index is 91.1 vs St. Petersburg's 103.4 (US average = 100).
New Orleans is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Petersburg leads 13 of 23 categories. New Orleans wins 10 and St. Petersburg wins 13. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from New Orleans to St. Petersburg or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($281,500 vs $289,000 median home), income ($51,116 vs $70,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Orleans, LA and St. Petersburg, FL are about 468 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.