Medford vs New Orleans
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Medford
New Orleans
The Verdict
New Orleans is 9.3% less expensive than Medford overall. A household earning $75,000 in Medford would need approximately $68,632 in New Orleans to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Medford has the same purchasing power as $68,632 in New Orleans.
Conversely, $75,000 in New Orleans equals $81,959 in Medford.
Living in Medford vs New Orleans
Housing Costs
Medford's housing index of 139 is higher New Orleans's 95, translating to median home prices of $406,000 vs $245,000. The $161,000 difference in home prices means roughly $10,464 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,375/mo in Medford compared to $1,200/mo in New Orleans, a monthly difference of $175.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 108 in Medford and 99 in New Orleans. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $513/month in Medford vs $470/month in New Orleans. New Orleans offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $516/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Medford and 91 in New Orleans. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Medford vs $364 in New Orleans. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 100 in Medford and 94 in New Orleans. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $73,200 in Medford and $43,258 in New Orleans. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $69,057 and $44,596 respectively. Medford residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,708/month to housing in Medford vs $1,009/month in New Orleans. In Medford, median rent of $1,375/mo fits within this budget. In New Orleans, median rent of $1,200/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 44 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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