($1,614) Movers From Stockton, CA to New Orleans, LA

What to know before moving from Stockton to New Orleans

Moving from Stockton to New Orleans means adjusting to a different pace of life — and a different price tag. On average, it costs significantly more to live in Stockton than in New Orleans, making the move an opportunity for many to enjoy a lower cost of living.

Check out how Stockton compares to New Orleans so you know what to expect before you relocate:

• Rent prices in New Orleans are 1% lower than in Stockton, 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 47.1% lower than in Stockton.
• Income in New Orleans is 20.0% lower than in Stockton, so you could earn less for doing the same job. The top employers in New Orleans include Entergy, Ochsner Health System, and LCMC Health.
• The cost of living for a single person in New Orleans is 16.8% lower than in Stockton. 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 16.1% higher than in Stockton.
• The unemployment rate in New Orleans is 6.80% higher than in Stockton.
• You’ll spend more on retail and restaurants in New Orleans, since the city’s sales taxes in New Orleans are 11.11% higher than in Stockton.
• One perk of moving to New Orleans is paying less in state income taxes, which are 68.05% lower than in Stockton.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $2,495.89 in New Orleans to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Stockton.

How life is different in Stockton vs. New Orleans

• The population of New Orleans is about 20% greater than Stockton, so you may find more to see and do in your new surroundings. Of course, with more people can also come increased competition for jobs and housing.
• New Orleans offers better access to buses and trains than Stockton, based on public transportation ratings. New Orleans has a transit score of 7 out of 10 compared to 4 in Stockton. 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 Stockton. New Orleans is considered more walkable than Stockton, with a score of 58 out of 100 versus 44 out of 100 in Stockton. A city’s walkability score indicates how pedestrian-friendly it is in terms of proximity of neighborhoods to amenities.
• If cycling is your thing, New Orleans is considered more bike-friendly than Stockton in terms of designated lanes and connectivity and how many residents opt to commute on two wheels rather than by car. New Orleans has a bike-friendliness score of 66 out of 100, while Stockton is rated as 52 out of 100.
• New Orleans has a lower crime rate than Stockton based on scores of 67.31 and Stockton's 75.2, respectively. The crime index shows how safe a city is perceived to be. So, a lower score generally means less crime.
• You might find more confidence in your overall safety in New Orleans than in Stockton, based on New Orleans’s safety index of 32.69 versus 24.8 for Stockton. With this index, higher scores indicate more safety, particularly around how comfortable residents feel walking alone during the day and at night.
• The air quality in New Orleans and Stockton is generally the same (Good). Cities with good to moderate ratings have clean or acceptable air quality, with the possibility of small pollutants affecting people with certain health conditions like asthma. Anything beyond the moderate rate means increased impact on residents.

Other things to consider for your Stockton 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