Anaheim is reputable for its robust economy due to the strong tourism drive, safer surroundings, and ideal spot, making it the best location to move and enjoy a better lifestyle than New Orleans. Meanwhile, New Orleans is well-known for its lively celebrations and Creole food culture.
Anaheim, California, has a growing economy thanks to its association with the happiest place in the entire world: Disneyland. The metropolitan area boasts its amusement parks and secured neighborhood, plus the location is a great place to access its nearby big towns.
New Orleans, Louisiana, or NOLA, is internationally known for its vibrant festival, especially the Mardi Gras. The area has a rich nightlife along Bourbon Street and exceptional culinary delights, with cheap living costs. However, there is an apparent social-economic problem in town.
It is understandable to be perplexed about where you want to experience life. Here, we will compare the benefits and drawbacks of Anaheim and New Orleans to help you decide which location is best for you.
List of Contents
What Are the Pros and Cons of Anaheim Versus New Orleans?
New Orleans has global recognition in its Mardi Gras, its great culinary culture, and low cost of living, but residing here will let you experience a struggle in its economy. Meanwhile, Anaheim’s international citation is its Disneyland Resort, its secured neighborhood, and big sporting venues, but the high cost of commodity and inefficient transport link is unlikely.
Living in New Orleans
Pros
New Orleans has excellent all-year-round festivals and cultural events. One of NOLA’s happening that makes its mark in the international scene is its famous Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras is a holiday celebrated throughout Louisiana, including New Orleans. Festivities last about two weeks between Shrove Tuesday, just before Ash Wednesday.
While many visitors focus their festivities season activities on Bourbon Street, main parades begin in the Center City and Mid-City districts and travel up the river along St. Charles Avenue and Canal Street. You will love the colorful tradition of NOLA people that reflects the
dynamic celebration.
New Orleans has an exceptional food delight that everyone will get enticed. The city has a unique blend of culinary art in creole cuisine.
Creole cuisine is a food preparation style that originated in Louisiana, United States. It combines West African, French, Spanish, and American-Indian influences and inspirations from a broad sense of Southern cuisine.
If you reside in New Orleans or are a tourist, taking in the city’s stunning nightlife is a must. New Orleans nightlife caters to all locals and visitors, with everything from bars and clubs to jazz lounges. After the sun sets, the Crescent City offers a diverse mix of places to have fun, as it’s affectionately called.
New Orleans has a cheap living expense than other American Cities of its kind. The place has an overall index of 96.3%, which is less than the national average. The housing market of NOLA is remarkably cheap, too, with only $178,500 as of its median value. Other costs such as utilities, food, groceries, and even health care are below the average standard.
Cons
- The Struggling Socioeconomic Difficulty
- Unlikely Weather in New Orleans
After the strong typhoon Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, there was devastation in the entire city, and around 80% of the whole place was in deep flood. People decided to seek better opportunities in their nearby towns, causing a population decrease of approximately 50% and job losses.
The urban area is still revitalizing, and the projected job growth of 25.1% is still lower than the national median, much more of the 23% poverty rate.
Living in New Orleans is suitable for people who appreciate fine weather and are not fans of snowfall. The place has two main seasons only, wet and dry. Hot climate temperature can go as high as 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and it is a bit scorching.
You do not want to go through the wet season in this metroplex. Flooding will occur in many neighborhoods due to heavy rainfall in the area. There’s also the occasional hurricane, which is about as unattractive as it gets.
Living in Anaheim
Pros
- Anaheim’s Amusement Citations
- Secured Surroundings
- Big Sporting Event Venues
- Rising Tourism Lane
Anaheim has global recognition as the home to Walt Disney’s first-ever Disneyland. The place is one of the world’s most visited amusement parks. Over 22 million people visit the tourist attraction, which provides 18,000 employment and generates around $7 billion per year.
Another internationally-acclaimed tourist spot here is the Skyzone Anaheim Indoor Trampoline Park. The place is one of the pioneers of the Skyzone branches worldwide. The area is also the originator of wall-to-wall aerial action.
Anaheim might not be the safest place among the cities in America, but it has a low crime level, most especially in the premises of the Anaheim Hills. The city has a 15% lesser violent crime rate than California on average. In addition, there are only about 1,200 assault-related crimes reported each year.
You will not appreciate the city of Anaheim if you will not get to its famous Big A and the Honda Center. The Big A or the Angel Stadium is home to the famous Los Angeles Angels, the city’s champion Baseball team.
The Honda Center is also one of the big event centers that house the Anaheim Ducks, the town’s winning Hockey Team. The place has various movie complexes and theater areas that cater to 8,400 viewers.
Anaheim has a lot of potential in its tourism industry, thus expanding it to cater to more people that will like to visit many tourist destinations in one setting. Aside from Disneyland, Anaheim extends its development to the city’s oldest food hub, The Anaheim Packing District.
Also, the locals are giving a new twist to the Disney Downtown District, with its lots of outlets, food options, and entertainment scene. The famous Anaheim Convention Center is always one of the best places that locals and even tourists in this urban area will always appreciate.
Cons
- Poor Transportation Link
- Anaheim has a Luxury Housing Market
Anaheim is a progressive city, yet its transportation system is not practical. A bus system is its only mass carrier, and there is no rail system present in the neighborhood. It isn’t easy for commuters and visitors to reach other communities without using their cars.
Anaheim’s accommodation is one of the most expensive in the entire Californian State. The place has an average home value of $500,000 alone and can go up to millions of dollars if you want to live in the city’s great neighborhood. Other categories like utilities, transportation, and food costs will make you pay more.
Anaheim Or New Orleans – Which Is Cheaper?
New Orleans is way cheaper than the cost-of-living statistics of Anaheim. NOLA is around 36.7% less expensive than Anaheim, and its housing market is also 70.0% less costly.
Living in NOLA is cost-efficient, and most ordinary people can probably afford it while living in Anaheim is not for everyone because of its luxury pricing.
Comparison Table of Living in Anaheim, California vs. New Orleans, Louisiana
| Living Expenses | Anaheim, California | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Housing and Rent | 257.1% | 77.2% |
| Utilities | 97.4% | 87.3% |
| Food And Groceries | 102.5% | 99.2% |
| Transportation | 118% | 132.5% |
| Health | 95.9% | 85.2% |
| Miscellaneous | 104.4% | 97.8% |
Based on the Data of which 100 = U.S. National Average
>100 means more expensive
<100 means cheaper than the U.S. average
Housing and Rent Costs
New Orleans is three times cheaper than the average index of Anaheim. NOLA has a 77.2%, lower than the national average with a mean home value of $178,500 and rental costs of $1,373. However, Anaheim has a very high rate that is even twice the national standard, having a median price for its home of $594,400 and a rental fee of $2,871.
Utility Costs
You will pay 10.1% less in New Orleans than in Anaheim. NOLA has lower pricing in its essential commodities of around $193 per month, which is highly reasonable. In Anaheim, you will need to prepare around $300.00 for your monthly bills.
Food and Groceries Costs
Living in NOLA is cheaper by about 3.3% than in Anaheim. There are favorable food items that you can buy at a low price here, such as 1kg of rice that costs $4.14 and 1 dozen eggs for $2.49. Meanwhile, 1 kg of rice in Anaheim is for $6.06, and 1 dozen eggs for $3.00.
Transportation Costs
Anaheim is 14.5% cheaper than New Orleans regarding transit fees and other related costs. An average standard tariff on taxis in Anaheim only costs $3.75, while NOLA will make you pay around $4.30. Also, if you are considering purchasing an automobile, Anaheim’s Volkswagen will cost you $24,750, which is cheaper than NOLA’s $26,000.
Health Care Costs
The average physician consultation fee in New Orleans is $99.75, while the same service in Anaheim will charge you $118.02. Medical care in NOLA is 10.7% cheaper than in Anaheim. Both city’s percentiles, though, do not exceed the national average.
Taxes
Anaheim’s tax rate on sales is roughly 7.8%, while its income tax is 8%. Meanwhile, New Orleans has a 9.5% on its sales tax and a 6% income tax.
Is Anaheim Safer Than New Orleans?
Anaheim’s safety index of 15% is higher than the percentage of New Orleans, which only got 2%, making it a safer place to live and raise a family. Also, the violence-related cases in Anaheim are lower than the figures recorded in NOLA.
In Anaheim, assault-related criminal offenses are around 1,242, while NOLA got an annual record of 5,221. Even Anaheim’s statistics in property-related criminal records are still lower, resulting in 8,880, compared to NOLA’s 18,098.
New Orleans’s rising crime index is higher than the national average is a concern for everyone who will likely relocate to the city. You need to check out some safe communities to avail of a good area within the city limits.
Is Anaheim Bigger Than New Orleans?
New Orleans is slightly bigger than Anaheim in its population and landmass. Based on statistical findings, NOLA has 389,476 people in its 169.4 square miles total land area, while Anaheim’s inhabitant in its 50.3 square mile stretch is 353,676.
New Orleans has 35,800 more people than Anaheim and is more prominent for about 119.1 square miles. Both cities have a favorable location that is essentially near other big cities. New Orleans’s position is in the Mississippi River Delta, near lake Pontchartrain, with a 180.4 square mile water area.
Meanwhile, Anaheim city’s border is Buena Park on the west side and Cypress, and the south by Stanton, with only 0.6 square miles of water area.
Is Anaheim Warmer Than New Orleans?
Anaheim has a mildly hot semi-arid climate, which is warmer than the humid subtropical climate of New Orleans. In addition, Anaheim has nearly 280 days of sunshine per year, compared to NOLA’s 216.
The two urban areas have warm days with no snowfall recorded in a year. However, Anaheim has a better comfort index of 9.3 scores than New Orleans’s 6.6 indexes. When we consider the UV index, Anaheim has a record of 5.9, which is a little higher than NOLA’s 5.7.
Both Anaheim and New Orleans have a record high temperature of around 80 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Their winter weather is relatively mild than freezing. However, New Orleans is prone to flooding during heavy rainfall, which occasionally occurs.
Is Anaheim Better Than New Orleans?
Anaheim is for people who want to visit various tourist attractions within the city limits while also working in the tourism industry and living in a peaceful community.
Anaheim’s potential benefits are a better choice than New Orleans’s. On the other hand, NOLA has a low cost of living and a thriving ambiance, as well as a recovering economy.
Anaheim’s employment prospects will continue to grow due to the city’s broadening tourism industry and other big firms in the metropolitan area. The spot is also outstanding because of its affluent and safe community, lush greenery, and large venues for sports enthusiasts.
New Orleans is a beautiful spot to explore the fun and excitement of Mardi Gras and all their other monthly cultural events. The urban district has a low cost of living, which is ideal for people with a regular income. However, the metropolitan area faces a significant economic challenge.
Both cities have some things in common, such as warm weather and fantastic neighborhoods, but Anaheim stands out for offering people better career opportunities due to its growing economy. New Orleans is still rebuilding, and it may take some time for the city’s economy to stabilize.
Are you considering moving to Anaheim, California, or New Orleans, Louisiana? Let me know your thoughts and concerns below.
