Just the name, New Orleans, makes you think of jazz-filled nights, beignets dusted with powdered sugar, and streets that seem to pulse with life.
The streets of the Big Easy are patchworks of parades and poetry that have an unending appeal to tourists. But you don't have to breeze through like tourists.
Strolling through the lively French Quarter, grooving to live music on Frenchmen Street, or indulging in its iconic Creole cuisine can simply be your favorite evening pastime.
But the million-dollar question is:
Is living in the Big Easy as dreamy as a warm beignet on a breezy Sunday morning?
Does the allure wear off when you're no longer just visiting?
What are the pros and cons of living in New Orleans before moving here?
Let's look at some of the good and bad sides that come with living in NOLA, revealing all the layers you may not have known about this city.
Quick Overview
Pros of Living in New Orleans | Cons of Living in New Orleans |
A rich cultural heritage | The weather can be too hot to handle |
Food that will feed your soul | Infrastructural woes and a poor public educational system |
The music scene is unmatched | Jobs vs. Cost of living: Not always a match made in heaven |
The streets are examples of architectural beauty | The crime rate Is a real buzzkill |
Neighbors who actually care |
The Pros of Living in New Orleans: Why NOLA Feels Like a Never-Ending Party
Living in New Orleans is a rewarding experience in many ways.
The plethora of outdoor engagements and the abundance of indoor living activities provide a balance that is welcoming to every individual.
Here are some of the pros of living in New Orleans, Louisiana:
A rich cultural heritage
Let's get one thing straight — New Orleans is culture.
This city doesn't just celebrate its traditions; it parades them down the street with a brass band and a sequined costume.
From Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, and the French Quarter Festival, the Big Easy doesn't need an excuse to throw a party.
You will never have to wonder what to do on a random Tuesday — there's always a festival somewhere.
Food that will feed your soul
Moving to New Orleans will make you a food snob anywhere else outside of the city.
Gumbo, crawfish boils, po'boys and bread pudding will spoil your taste buds beyond repair. Let's not even get started on the late-night beignets at Café du Monde.
The food here is influenced by the city's diverse cultures: Spanish, French, African, and Creole.
Locals here live in a food paradise, where even the corner gas station serves boudin better than most fancy restaurants elsewhere.
Sometimes, deciding what to eat is the hardest part of your day.
The music scene is unmatched
Have you ever heard a jazz band play so well that you forgot your name? That's New Orleans on an average night!
The birthplace of jazz, this city has music oozing out of its pores. Finding bad music in New Orleans simply means you're in the wrong town.
…and not to ruin your first moments here, if you plan on relocating or visiting the city, it's best to hire a professional New Orleans Moving Company to help you settle in properly.
Wander down Frenchmen Street or catch a brass band at the park. You will quickly realize that the soundtrack of New Orleans is unbeatable.
Locals don't need Spotify; live music is everywhere, and it's one of the many reasons people fall in love with this city.
The streets are examples of architectural beauty
Have you wondered what New Orleans attractions the tourists that flock to the city come to see?
From the stately mansions of the Garden District to the colorful shotgun houses, every corner is like a movie set.
The wrought-iron balconies dripping with greenery? Chef's kiss!
As a local, you will get to soak in these views daily.
Neighbors who actually care
NOLA folks have a saying: "We take care of our own." It's more than just words; it's a way of life.
Whether it's rallying together after a storm or just sharing cake at work, people here have each other's backs.
It's also easier to make new friends here. Call it a perk of Southern hospitality; New Orleans is the last place you feel lonely.
The Cons of Living in New Orleans: Not Everything's About the Brass Bands
While it would be great for New Orleans to be the perfect picture of paradise, living there has pros and cons.
Some of these cons include:
The weather can be too hot to handle
If you think you know heat, New Orleans would like a word.
Summers here feel like a sauna cranked to the max, and the humidity is high as well.
Hurricane season? Yes, it's a thing. Locals here have yet to fully recover from Hurricane Katrina's aftermath.
While the occasional storm highlights the city's resilience, it can also bring some nail-biting moments and possible evacuations.
Average Seasonal Temperature in New Orleans:
Winter — 58°F
Fall — 71°F
Spring — 72°F
Summer — 84°F
Infrastructural woes and a poor public educational system
The Big Easy's beauty comes with its patchwork of imperfections, and the roads are one of them. Potholes here could swallow small cars whole.
But it's not just the roads. The city's aging infrastructure sometimes feels like it's held together with beads and hope.
If these are not enough to weigh the pros and cons of living in New Orleans, the public school system is next.
The Orleans Parish School District, which oversees public school education in the city, has a school quality rating that is better than only 7% of all U.S. school districts.
Unfortunately, it makes education a challenge for families with kids.
Jobs vs. Cost of living: Not always a match made in heaven
Sure, New Orleans isn't as pricey as New York or LA, but the general view everywhere is that the cost of living here is pocket-friendly.
The truth is that this is only relatively true.
At a rate 12% higher than the national average, the cost of living here is quite high. The bad catch here is that the job market isn't exactly booming.
Expense Category | Compared to the National Average |
Housing | 49% higher |
Utilities | 26% lower |
Groceries | 3% lower |
Transportation | 6% lower |
Healthcare | 10% higher |
The city thrives on tourism, hospitality, and entertainment, but you might find yourself in a pinch if your career falls outside those industries.
Living costs are creeping up, and for some locals, the paychecks aren't keeping pace.
The crime rate Is a real buzzkill
What is a list of the pros and cons of living in New Orleans without mentioning its crime rate?
Crime can be an issue here in New Orleans. While there are many safe neighborhoods like River Ridge, Eastover, and Lakewood, New Orleans has its rough patches,
It pays to stay vigilant here.
Locals learn which areas to avoid and take precautions to stay safe, like avoiding tourist-heavy areas like French Quarters during odd hours.
per 1,000 Residents | New Orleans Median | Louisiana Median | National Median |
Violent Crime | 14.46 | 6.29 | 4.0 |
Property Crime | 46.52 | 27.48 | 20.0 |
Final Thoughts: Can You Handle Life in the Big Easy?
Living in New Orleans can assume a wildly charismatic personality and be occasionally frustrating. But despite the pros and cons of living in New Orleans, the Big Easy is impossible to resist.
The music, food, and culture offer a lifestyle that's good enough if you can roll with the punches. However, you will have to deal with a few curveballs, like sweating through heat and humidity, hurricane season, and a not-so-great economy.
But, once that's out of the way, New Orleans isn't so bad.
One thing is sure: the city has a variety that might just be the spice of life you crave.
