($1,506) Movers From Sacramento, CA to New Orleans, LA

What to know before moving from Sacramento to New Orleans

Moving from Sacramento to New Orleans comes with exciting new opportunities — but also higher living costs. Since New Orleans is generally more expensive than Sacramento, it’s important to plan ahead and budget carefully for the change.

Check out how the two cities compare so you know what to expect before you relocate:

• Rent prices in New Orleans are 8% lower than in Sacramento, which means you’ll have more money in your pocket each month.
• In terms of homeownership, you’ll be able to get more for your money in New Orleans.
  Home prices in New Orleans are 51.4% lower than in Sacramento.
• Income in New Orleans is 35.3% lower than in Sacramento, so you could earn less for doing the same job. The top employers in New Orleans include Entergy, Ochsner Health System, and LCMC Health.
• Be sure to budget for higher bills in New Orleans, since the cost of living for a single person in New Orleans is 18.0% higher than in Sacramento. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• If you’re moving your family to New Orleans, keep in mind that your living expenses could increase. The cost of living for a family in New Orleans is 27.7% higher than in Sacramento.
• The unemployment rate in New Orleans is 42.86% higher than in Sacramento.
• You’ll spend more on retail and restaurants in New Orleans, since the city’s sales taxes in New Orleans are 14.29% higher than in Sacramento.
• One perk of moving to New Orleans is paying less in state income taxes, which are 68.05% lower than in Sacramento.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $3,539.91 in New Orleans to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Sacramento.

How life is different in Sacramento vs. New Orleans

• New Orleans might offer you a slower pace of life, since the population is about 27% less than Sacramento.
• New Orleans offers better access to buses and trains than Sacramento, based on public transportation ratings. New Orleans has a transit score of 7 out of 10 compared to 6 in Sacramento. The higher the score, the more public transportation pickup and dropoff locations a city provides.
• Living in New Orleans means you’ll likely be within closer walking distance to restaurants, shops, parks, and entertainment than you are in Sacramento. New Orleans is considered more walkable than Sacramento, with a score of 58 out of 100 versus 49 out of 100 in Sacramento. A city’s walkability score indicates how pedestrian-friendly it is in terms of proximity of neighborhoods to amenities.
• New Orleans and Sacramento are similarly bike-friendly based on their comparable ratings of 66 and 67 respectively. Bike-friendliness scores between 50 and 100 indicate varying levels of infrastructure to support cyclists, including bike lanes and roadway connectivity. Cities with scores under 50 are considered more car-dependent.
• The crime rate in New Orleans is higher than in Sacramento, so you may want to exercise a little extra caution as you're acclimating to your new location. While the crime index is 67.31 in New Orleans, it is 49.21 in Sacramento. With this index, the lower the score, the better, since it indicates a city’s crime levels.
• You may want to exercise more caution as you’re getting used to your new surroundings in New Orleans. With a crime index of 32.69, New Orleans ranks lower in overall safety than Sacramento, whose index is Sacramento's 50.79. The safety index measures how safe people in a city feel about walking alone, both during the day and at night, as well as data on muggings, theft, vandalism, and other instances of petty crime.
• You can breathe easy knowing that New Orleans has better air quality than in Sacramento. New Orleans has Good air quality, compared to moderate in Sacramento. Ratings of good to moderate mean very low risk of health concerns, although people with conditions like asthma or allergies could be affected. Beyond the moderate rating, health concerns increase for some or all residents.

Other things to consider for your Sacramento vs. New Orleans move

• Weather: New Orleans has short, generally mild winters and hot, humid summers. The summer months are the wettest, while October is the driest month. Hurricanes pose a severe threat to the area, and the city is particularly at risk because of its low elevation, because it is surrounded by water from the north, east, and south and because of Louisiana's sinking coast.
• HOA rules: Check ahead with any neighborhood or community rules on moving to ensure a smooth move.
• Elevator reservation: If your building has an elevator you'll want to check on how to reserve it for move day.
• Truck parking permits: Some cities require parking permits for large vehicles and moving trucks. Find out if you need any parking permits ahead of time.
• State licensing: If you’re using a legitimate moving company to relocate from one home or apartment within the state to another, look for a company regulated by the Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC). During the pre-move screening process, families on the move should verify that prospective movers are registered and in good standing with the LPSC. In cases of substandard service, inflated costs, and unlicensed movers operating illegally, consumers may file a complaint, after which the commission will initiate an investigation. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
• State regulator: You can verify a Louisiana moving license and its status through the state's public utilities commission.
• Moving permits: Louisiana does not require any moving permits, but it is helpful to check local parking restrictions before moving into the state.
• Change of address: We recommend submitting your change of address form with USPS at least a week prior to your move. You can set an official move date on the form and this way all of your mail will get properly forwarded to New Orleans. Get started here.
• Moving company insurance: Every state requires moving companies to carry different levels of insurance.Choose Released Value Protection for free coverage at 60 cents per pound from movers. For full-value protection, explore alternative options with your chosen moving company or consider a third-party insurance provider.
• Moving checklist: Our moving checklist will help you have the peace of mind that you've got everything covered.

Where to live in New Orleans

Now that you've decided to make the move to "Crescent City", these are the best neighborhoods to move to in New Orleans.

Helpful moving resources