Studio Rent · August 2026

Studio Apartment Rent in New Orleans, LA

$1,142/mo

Median asking rent for a studio apartment in New Orleans, Louisiana as of August 2026. That's +31% lower than the citywide median of $1,648 and +11% below the national studio median of $1,290.

Studio median
$1,142
August 2026
vs city overall
-31%
$1,648 city median
vs national
-11%
$1,290 US median
Louisiana rank
#36
of 43 cities

Income needed for a studio in New Orleans

Using the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline (the threshold above which households are considered rent-burdened), here's what you need to earn to comfortably afford a studio at the current median rent.

Annual income
$45,680
Monthly gross
$3,807
Hourly (full-time)
$21.96

Rent by apartment size in New Orleans

Compare New Orleans's median rent across every apartment size.

Studio (current)
$1,142
1-Bedroom
$1,319
2-Bedroom
$1,576
3-Bedroom
$2,015
4+ Bedroom
$2,366

Cheapest cities for a studio in Louisiana

#CityStudio rent
1Pineville$680
2Monroe$700
3Opelousas$700
4New Iberia$710
5Deridder$720
6Ruston$720
7Leesville$740
8Broussard$750
9Alexandria$770
10Lafayette$776
11Thibodaux$780
12Shreveport$785
13Sulphur$790
14West Monroe$820
15Houma$830

Most expensive cities for a studio in Louisiana

#CityStudio rent
1Elmwood$1,636
2Belle Chasse$1,450
3Gonzales$1,300
4Mandeville$1,245
5Covington$1,220
6Prairieville$1,200
7Zachary$1,180
8New Orleans (this page)$1,142
9Denham Springs$1,140
10Baton Rouge$1,135
11Slidell$1,117
12Destrehan$1,090
13Harvey$1,080
14Westwego$1,060
15La Place$1,050

Nearby cities — studio rent

Considering nearby alternatives? 5 of these cities have cheaper studio rents than New Orleans.

CityDistanceStudio rentvs New Orleans
Gretna, LA4.7 mi$1,000$-142 (-12%)
Harvey, LA6.6 mi$1,080$-62 (-5%)
Chalmette, LA6.8 mi$920$-222 (-19%)
Jefferson, LA7.1 mi$950$-192 (-17%)
Metairie, LA8.2 mi$1,034$-108 (-9%)
Elmwood, LA8.8 mi$1,636+$494 (+43%)
Marrero, LA9.6 mi$1,030$-112 (-10%)
Belle Chasse, LA9.8 mi$1,450+$308 (+27%)
Westwego, LA10.7 mi$1,060$-82 (-7%)
Kenner, LA14 mi$1,000$-142 (-12%)
Destrehan, LA21.2 mi$1,090$-52 (-5%)
Slidell, LA28.1 mi$1,117$-25 (-2%)

Studio rent in New Orleans — common questions

How much is a studio apartment in New Orleans?

As of August 2026, the median studio apartment rent in New Orleans, Louisiana is $1,142 per month. This is +31% below the citywide median of $1,648.

What income do you need to afford a studio in New Orleans?

Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $45,680 ($3,807/month gross), which works out to roughly $21.96/hour at a full-time job.

Is New Orleans expensive for a studio compared to the rest of the US?

New Orleans's studio median of $1,142 is +11% below the national studio median of $1,290. It ranks in the 39th percentile of US cities tracked.

How does New Orleans rank for studio rent in Louisiana?

Among the 43 cities in Louisiana with studio data, New Orleans ranks #36 from cheapest to most expensive.

Are there cheaper studio options near New Orleans?

Yes — nearby cities with cheaper studio rents include Gretna ($1,000), Harvey ($1,080), Chalmette ($920).

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Methodology: Bedroom-level rent medians come from HUD Fair Market Rent data calibrated to the Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) for New Orleans, which serves as the citywide anchor. When the HUD bedroom values exceed the ZORI city median (a common quirk in luxury markets and small samples), bedroom values are proportionally scaled down to align. Income required uses the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline. Comparison rankings use the same data month across all cities (August 2026) and exclude cities with median rent below $400 or above $20,000.