01 · the cities
Miami
Miami is Spanish before it's English, salsa before it's small talk, and a cortadito before it's a coffee. South Beach Art Deco glows pink at night, Wynwood is a city-sized mural, and the Cuban sandwiches in Little Havana could end fights. Summer is bath-warm ocean and ceiling fans turned up high, and October feels like everywhere else's perfect August. Bring linen.
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
$2,665/mo
$1,612/mo
$1,053/mo less than Miami (65%)
Median home price
Median home price
$565k
$259k
$305k less than Miami
State income tax
State income tax
0%
3.0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$5,668/mo
$6,471/mo
New Orleans has $803/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
272 days
235 days
37 fewer than Miami
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 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
Miami edges ahead on pleasant days, but both cities have comparable comfort overall.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
77 / 100
55 / 100
22.0 pts behind Miami
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
167 routes
39 routes
128 fewer direct routes than Miami
Metro size
Metro size
6.2M metro
962k metro
Miami has 10.3x more events per month than New Orleans.
the verdict
4
Miami
categories won
3
New Orleans
categories won
Miami wins on weather and lifestyle. New Orleans has the edge on money.
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