01 · the cities
Los Angeles
Los Angeles is 88 cities pretending to be one, connected by freeways and a shared love of really good tacos. Every neighborhood is its own scene: surfers in Venice, the Korean grandmas of K-town, mountains rising behind Pasadena, Persian rugs in Westwood. The light at golden hour is so good it makes Instagram filters jealous. Roll the windows down at golden hour, put on a playlist, and let the city stretch out.
full dispatch→New Orleans
New Orleans doesn't run on time, it runs on rhythm. The brass bands roll second-line parades through the streets for weddings, funerals, and Tuesdays, the gumbo is a personality test, and the French Quarter's wrought-iron balconies look exactly like the postcards. Mardi Gras is real life here, not a stunt. The air carries beignet sugar, river mist, and someone's trumpet warming up two blocks over.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,899/mo
$1,612/mo
$1,287/mo less than Los Angeles (80%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.0M
$259k
$770k less than Los Angeles
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
3.0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,659/mo
$6,471/mo
New Orleans has $1,812/mo more gross after rent at $100k
Gross left after rent reflects state income tax but not federal, based on $100k salary. Enter your salary to find your ideal city.
03 · the weather
Pleasant days/yr
Pleasant days/yr
283 days
235 days
48 fewer than Los Angeles
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
19 days
3 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
0 days
days below 20°F per year
Los Angeles has 16 more days above 95°F each year than New Orleans.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
67 / 100
55 / 100
12.0 pts behind Los Angeles
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
150 routes
39 routes
111 fewer direct routes than Los Angeles
Metro size
Metro size
12.8M metro
962k metro
Los Angeles has 3.6x more events per month than New Orleans.
the verdict
3
Los Angeles
categories won
5
New Orleans
categories won
New Orleans wins on money. Los Angeles has the edge on lifestyle.
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