01 · the cities
New York
New York is the city that refuses to take a nap. Five boroughs of bodegas, bagels, late-night dollar slices, and entire neighborhoods that switch languages every six blocks. The subway is a 472-station miracle that runs all night, and Central Park is the green lung that keeps Manhattan sane. You will spend more than you planned and love every minute of it.
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
$3,329/mo
$1,612/mo
$1,717/mo less than New York (107%)
Median home price
Median home price
$739k
$259k
$480k less than New York
State income tax
State income tax
10.7%
3.0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,110/mo
$6,471/mo
New Orleans has $2,361/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
171 days
235 days
64 more than New York
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
1 days
3 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
19 days
0 days
days below 20°F per year
New York drops below 20°F on 19 more days per year than New Orleans.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
78 / 100
55 / 100
23.0 pts behind New York
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
215 routes
39 routes
176 fewer direct routes than New York
Metro size
Metro size
19.5M metro
962k metro
New York has 40.7x more events per month than New Orleans.
the verdict
2
New York
categories won
6
New Orleans
categories won
New Orleans wins on money and weather. New York has the edge on lifestyle.
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