($1,347) Movers From Kansas City, MO to New Orleans, LA

What to know before moving from Kansas City to New Orleans

Moving from Kansas City to New Orleans comes with exciting new opportunities — but also higher living costs. Since New Orleans is generally more expensive than Kansas City, 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 35% higher than in Kansas City, which means you’ll have less money in your pocket each month.
• Home prices are the same in New Orleans and Kansas City.
• Income in New Orleans is 20.8% lower than in Kansas City, 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 26.7% higher than in Kansas City. 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 24.3% higher than in Kansas City.
• The unemployment rate in New Orleans is 107.55% higher than in Kansas City.
• You’ll spend more on retail and restaurants in New Orleans, since the city’s sales taxes in New Orleans are 19.05% higher than in Kansas City.
• One perk of moving to New Orleans is paying less in state income taxes, which are 11.46% lower than in Kansas City.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $3,801.86 in New Orleans to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Kansas City.

How life is different in Kansas City vs. New Orleans

• New Orleans might offer you a slower pace of life, since the population is about 24% less than Kansas City.
• New Orleans offers better access to buses and trains than Kansas City, based on public transportation ratings. New Orleans has a transit score of 7 out of 10 compared to 4 in Kansas City. 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 Kansas City. New Orleans is considered more walkable than Kansas City, with a score of 58 out of 100 versus 35 out of 100 in Kansas City. 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 Kansas City 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 Kansas City is rated as 35 out of 100.
• The crime rate in New Orleans is higher than in Kansas City, 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 58.4 in Kansas City. 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 Kansas City, whose index is Kansas City's 42.6. 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.
• The air quality in New Orleans and Kansas City 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 Kansas City 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: Be sure to review your community or HOA guidelines before moving day to avoid any surprises or delays.
• Elevator reservation: If your building has an elevator, make sure to find out how to reserve it ahead of your move.
• Truck parking permits: Many cities require special permits for parking large moving trucks. Check in advance to see if one is needed for your move.
• 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.Double-check that the moving company is properly licensed before you hire them.
• State regulator: You can check the status of a Louisiana moving license through the state's public utilities commission.
• Moving permits: Louisiana doesn\’t require moving permits, but it\’s still a good idea to check local parking rules before your move-in day.
• Change of address: We suggest filing your USPS change of address form at least one week before your move. You’ll be able to set your official move date, helping ensure your mail is forwarded correctly to New Orleans. Start the process here.
• Moving company insurance: Each state has its own requirements for the level of insurance moving companies must carry.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: Use our moving checklist to stay on top of every detail and reduce last-minute stress.

Where to live in New Orleans

Ready to relocate to "Crescent City"? Here are some of the top neighborhoods to consider in New Orleans.

Helpful moving resources