How much rent can I afford in New Orleans?

The common guideline is to spend no more than 30% of gross income on rent. Enter your income and the tool shows your affordable monthly rent, then compares it to New Orleans studio, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom medians.

What is the median rent in New Orleans?

New Orleans median rents are roughly $1,200 for a studio, $1,400 for a 1-bedroom, and $1,700 for a 2-bedroom. Prices vary widely by neighborhood — the French Quarter and Uptown run higher than outlying areas.

What does the rent-to-income ratio tell me?

It is your target rent divided by your gross monthly income. At or below 30% is comfortable, 30-40% is stretched, and above 40% is considered cost-burdened, meaning rent may crowd out other essentials.

Should I use gross or net income?

The 30% rule traditionally uses gross (pre-tax) income, which is what landlords typically check. If you prefer a stricter, take-home-based budget, enter your net monthly income instead and read the same percentages.

Is my data sent anywhere?

No. The calculation runs entirely in your browser, and your income figures never leave your device.

New Orleans Rent Affordability Calculator

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The most-used rule of thumb for housing is to keep rent at or below 30% of gross income. This free calculator applies that rule to New Orleans, showing your affordable monthly rent and checking any target against the city’s median studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom prices so you know where you stand before you sign a lease.

How it works

The calculator first converts your income to a monthly figure, then applies the 30% rule and computes a rent-to-income ratio if you supply a target rent:

gross_monthly   = annual_income / 12   (or your monthly income)
affordable_rent = gross_monthly * 0.30
ratio           = target_rent / gross_monthly

A ratio at or below 30% is flagged comfortable, 30-40% is stretched, and above 40% is cost-burdened. Each result is compared against New Orleans median rents so you can match your budget to a realistic apartment size.

Tips and example

Earning $60,000/year is $5,000/month gross, giving an affordable rent of $1,500 — enough to cover the city’s $1,400 median one-bedroom comfortably. A $1,700 two-bedroom would push the ratio to 34%, into stretched territory. Median rents are planning estimates and vary by neighborhood; always confirm current listings. Everything runs in your browser.