Compared to New Orleans, Austin is better. For once, the weather is warmer. Its housing is also more affordable. The city comes with a bustling cultural scene which is a bonus. You can choose from family-friendly suburbs to urban areas.
The nightlife in Austin is also alive and kicking. The food scene may be better in New Orleans, but I am not saying Austin is all that bad in this category.
But most important of all, Austin provides more job opportunities compared to New Orleans.
Austin is the more practical choice to move in for you and your family.
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What are the Pros and Cons of Austin versus New Orleans?
Tex-Mex and barbecue fans will undoubtedly love it in Austin. It is a vibrant city with many opportunities to spend time outdoors. On the one hand, New Orleans is all about culture and history. And it is full of color.
But this does not mean both cities are all fun. There are a few downsides you should know.
Here are a few of them.
Austin Living
Tex-Mex, barbecue, and much alternative music thrive in Austin. Plus, the city has excellent outdoor activities. It is dynamic. It is vibrant.
Despite these, Austin also has many conservative communities that believe in more traditional ideas.
Let us talk more about Austin.
Pros
Here are the best things you should know about living in Austin
- Accommodation
- Weather
- Job Opportunities
The property market in Austin is going on an all-time high.
It has a growing population. It means that it is an excellent investment to buy properties in Austin.
The occupancy rate of rental properties in Austin is high. It is because of the influx of people who live in the city. And this is a good thing, especially for those looking into investing in properties here.
Austin has beautiful summers.
You can expect long and lazy days by the pool when living in Austin. Summers here are all about getting that beautiful tan or spending some time with nature.
Winters in Austin are mild. They are also relatively short. This type of weather makes it more attractive for people to come and live here.
Austin has a lot to offer, especially to those working in the tech sector when it comes to jobs.
The city saw exponential growth in the industry in the past decade. And even if you are fresh out of college, you can easily land a job here, especially if you come with a technology-related degree.
The salaries are competitive, too!
Cons
Austin is not all about the positive sides. The city has a few downfalls as well. Here they are.
- Traffic
- A Conservative Community
Austin is a city that is dependent on cars. There is an influx of people who come to live here. As such, traffic is getting worse with each passing day.
The infrastructures may be improving. But the improvement cannot keep up with the demands of the city’s growing population.
Rush hours here can be worse.
The city has a slogan. It says, “Keep Austin Weird.”
And to be fair to Austin, it tries its best to encourage diversity and creativity. It is, in fact, progressive.
Know, however, that Austin is still Texas. And Texas is a conservative state. Knowing that Texas may be a struggle if you value and live by your liberal ideas.
There will always be conservative views on specific issues like same-sex marriage and gun control.
New Orleans Living
New Orleans is all about rich history and culture. The city is full of life, color, and vibrance.
But like any other city, it has its downsides, too.
Read on to find out.
Pros
Many reasons make New Orleans a great place. Here they are.
- Accommodation
- A Vibrant Community
- Weather
- Job Opportunities
The prices of properties in New Orleans are reasonable. The market has been improving recently. It means that investing in a property in the city is a great option.
Also, property taxes here are way lesser compared to the national average.
And should you decide to rent, rental rates are reasonable, too.
New Orleans is colorful and is rich in history and culture. It is a food lover’s dream destination where everyone raves about their food.
The way of life may be a bit slower than other cities in the US. But if this is your thing, New Orleans is the place to be.
Finally, the city has a lot of festivals.
We know about Mardi Gras in New Orleans. But aside from Mardi Gras, there is always something going on all year round.
Cons
Despite these advantages, there will always be disadvantages to New Orleans. Read and find out.
It would be best to always prepare for rain when in New Orleans, no matter the season. And because of rain, you should also accept that flooding is a way of life. It is because of the low elevation of New Orleans.
The weather is also ideal for crawlies and pests to foster.
Buck moth caterpillars, spiders, and fire ants are just some of these creepy crawling friends you should accept as part of life.
I know Hurricane Katrina happened more than a decade ago. But its impact on the economy remained up to this day.
Before Katrina, the economy of New Orleans was vibrant. But to this day, New Orleans is still recovering from the devastation Katrina left.
Unemployment in New Orleans is higher than the national average. The salaries also remain lower compared to other cities.
Austin or New Orleans – Which is more expensive?
Comparing the two cities, Austin is more expensive than New Orleans. The general cost of living in New Orleans sits below the national average. Austin has the cost of living higher than the country’s national average.
| Living Expenses | Austin | New Orleans |
| Housing | 159.6 | 77.2 |
| Food & Groceries | 96.7 | 99.2 |
| Health | 94.4 | 85.2 |
| Utilities | 99.1 | 87.3 |
| Transportation | 109.9 | 132.5 |
Data is based on 100 = US National Average
>100 means more expensive than the national average
<100 means cheaper than the national average
Housing/Rent
When it comes to housing and rental costs, Austin is more expensive.
To give you a clearer perspective, let us put the national average at 100. To be anything higher than 100 means the city is more expensive.
In such a case, Austin sits at 159.6. It means that Austin is about 59% higher than the national average.
New Orleans, on the other hand, sits at 77.2. The number shows that the city is 22.8% lower than the national average regarding housing costs.
A studio-type apartment in Austin costs an average of US$1,012. In New Orleans, the same apartment can cost around US$768.
The same is true even to more significant properties.
For example, a two-bedroom apartment costs US$1,344 in Austin. In New Orleans, the same apartment can cost around US$1,065.
Utilities
The average utility costs in Austin are more expensive than that of New Orleans.
Utility costs in Austin sit about 0.9% below the national average. Utility costs in New Orleans are about 12.7% lower than the national average.
On average, utility costs for a 480 sq ft studio in New Orleans is around US$101 per month. An apartment of the same size in Austin, the prices can soar up to an average of US$143.
Food and Groceries
The variance of costs between the two cities regarding food and groceries is not that significant.
New Orleans is about 0.8% lower than the national average. On this aspect, Austin is about 3.3% lower than the national average. The numbers say that New Orleans is more expensive than Austin in this aspect.
Even the cost of basic lunch in the business district does not have that much difference. Lunch in Austin sits at an average of US$16. In New Orleans, it can go up to US$20.
There are also differences in grocery items. And this can be helpful, especially if you prefer to cook at home.
For example, bread is more expensive in New Orleans by more than a dollar. Milk is also more expensive here.
Eggs may be more expensive in Austin, but that is where this ends. Fruits like apples and bananas are more expensive in New Orleans.
And the list goes on for a lot of grocery items.
When it comes to food and groceries, Austin is generally cheaper than New Orleans.
Transportation
When it comes to transportation costs, New Orleans is more expensive than Austin.
Gas in New Orleans (US$0.55) may be a bit cheaper than in Austin (US$0.74). But everything else transportation-wise is more expensive in New Orleans.
For example, the average tariff for a taxi in New Orleans costs around US$18. In Austin, it is only around US$17.
A monthly ticket at the city’s public transportation costs US$50 in Austin and US$52 in New Orleans.
It could be because of the ravages left by Hurricane Katrina on the city’s transport system. Or it could be another reason.
For whatever it may be, New Orleans is more expensive than Austin regarding transportation costs.
Also, transportation in New Orleans is not as reliable.
Health Care
New Orleans is a bit cheaper than Austin when it comes to health care costs.
The differences may not be huge. But if you have regular health care needs, this can show in accumulation.
For example, a short visit to a private doctor is more affordable in New Orleans at about US$20.
Even medicines can be cheaper in New Orleans. For example, medication for colds that is good enough for six days is more affordable in New Orleans by about US$1 to US$2.
New Orleans is a recovering city. There are fewer health care practitioners here compared to Austin. Even though the few healthcare practitioners here compared to Austin, the industry is striving.
Is Austin safer than New Orleans?
There has been a higher increase in crimes in New Orleans for the past three years than in Austin. The crime index in New Orleans sits at 65.64, while in Austin, it is at a low rate of 37.06. It means that people in Austin feel safer than people in New Orleans.
When you compare the data, it is evident that Austin is way safer than New Orleans.
New Orleans is at an all-time high regarding crimes related to drugs. The city sits at a rating of 73.03, which is higher than Austin’s rating of 44.16.
Property crimes sit at 71.43 in New Orleans, while in Austin, it is only at 46.25.
The same is true with violent crimes.
In New Orleans, violent crimes can be at 71.74. It is very high compared to a 34.33 rating in Austin.
Even prospects of bribery and corruption are higher in New Orleans (69.25) compared to Austin (32.69).
When it comes to safety, it is Austin over New Orleans.
Is Austin warmer than New Orleans?
Austin is warmer than New Orleans. The summers here are beautiful. New Orleans gets a lot of rain. It also floods easily.
It should depend on the season.
Austin is warmer than other cities, no matter the season.
As previously mentioned, winters are shorter in Austin. Summers here are longer. They are more beautiful, too.
In New Orleans, the problem lies with its geographical location. It gets more rain all year round. And what makes it worse is that New Orleans is a low-lying city.
As such, the city easily floods with the littlest amount of rain.
Is Austin better than New Orleans?
In 2021, Austin was the best city to live in Texas. It ranked 5th nationwide. Compared to New Orleans, Austin is way better.
Austin is a city with good value.
It is a city that attracts more and more people each year.
Its desirability is something you could never ignore.
Finally, Austin has a strong job market. It also has a high quality of life.
Compared to New Orleans, Austin is way better.
How about you?
Where do you consider moving to?
Let me know what you think in the comments section below.