How much does it cost to travel to New Orleans?
You should plan to spend around $106 per day on your vacation in New Orleans. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $19 on meals
- $19 on local transportation
- $101 on hotels
A one week trip to New Orleans for two people costs, on average, $1,483. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to New Orleans has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is New Orleans expensive to visit?
Prices in New Orleans are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.
Within North America, which is known to be an expensive region, New Orleans is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Phoenix or Martha's Vineyard.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is New Orleans Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to New Orleans?
The average New Orleans trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these New Orleans travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
Category
|
Cost
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
$101
|
Local Transportation 1
|
$19
|
Food 2
|
$19
|
Entertainment 1
|
$19
|
Tips and Handouts 1
|
$14 -
43
|
Alcohol 2
|
$13 -
39
|
Accommodation Budget in New Orleans
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in New Orleans is $50. For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in New Orleans is $101. This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in New Orleans? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in New Orleans
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in New Orleans is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $19 per person, per day, on local transportation in New Orleans.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$19
How much does it cost to go to New Orleans? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in New Orleans will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Typical prices for Transportation in New Orleans are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in New Orleans, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
Food Budget in New Orleans
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in New Orleans can vary, the average cost of food in New Orleans is $19 per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in New Orleans should cost around $7.48 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in New Orleans is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$19
Entertainment Budget in New Orleans
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in New Orleans typically cost an average of $19 per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$19
Typical prices for Entertainment in New Orleans are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in New Orleans, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
Tips and Handouts Budget in New Orleans
Calculated from travelers like you
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Alcohol Budget in New Orleans
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $26 on alcoholic beverages in New Orleans per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$26
Water Budget in New Orleans
Calculated from travelers like you
-
On average, people spend $19 on bottled water in New Orleans per day. The public water in New Orleans is considered safe to drink.
-
Water2
Bottled water for one day
$19
New Orleans On a Budget
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana, and it is a cultural city that is the home of jazz, unique cuisine, and Mardi Gras in the U.S. It was established in 1718 and is one of the oldest cities in the country. The culture of the city has a mix of French, Creole, African American, Caribbean, Irish, Haitian, German and Vietnamese. There's an energy and atmosphere that is unlike any place else.
The city's climate is humid subtropical with short and mild winters and hot and humid summers. Summers can be quite hot and oppressive while winters are comfortable and pleasant. Snow is very rare but does occasionally occur. Hurricanes are a significant risk in the area and the city's low elevation makes it particularly vulnerable to damage. It is also surrounded by water from the north, east and south. Hurricane Katrina devastated the city in 2005 but the city continues to rebound to this day.
Sights
New Orleans is a city that is really about atmosphere. The city's rich history means that it has a lot of historical architecture that is fun to explore. There are many old cemeteries throughout the older parts of town as well. Popular sights in the
French Quarter include Bourbon Street, Royal Street, Jackson Square, the Moon Walk, Chartres Street, the Old French Market, and Lower Decatur Street.
Other sights include the Superdome, the Audubon Zoo, the New Orleans Museum of Art and the Mississippi River.
Neighborhoods
New Orleans can be divided into seven districts. The French Quarter is the most notable area for tourists. This is the oldest part of the city and there are many restaurants, music clubs and bars in this area. The Central Business District is next to the French Quarter and also has many attractions. It's the city's financial district and has both skyscrapers and high rise hotels. Downriver refers to the older neighborhoods that are located "Downriver" from the French Quarter. This is where you'll find Marigny's Frenchmen Street which is the main drag in the music district. Uptown is upriver from the central business district and has beautiful old architecture. Other districts in the city include Middle, Lakeside and Algiers.
Activities
New Orleans is at its peak during Mardi Gras. During this time there is no shortage of parades, balls, events, and festivities that you can enjoy. Other festivals around town include the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (or Jazz Fest), the French Quarter Festival, the Essence Festival, Southern Decadence, Satchmo Summer Festival, and San Fermin en Nueva Orleans.
But Mardi Gras is not everything. Penty of other
things to do in New Orleans include riverboat cruises, riding the streetcar, exploring the historic neighborhoods, taking a carriage ride, taking a walking or bicycle tour, shopping, or taking a cooking class.
Food and Dining
New Orleans truly is a culinary capital of the country. There are many regional and local specialties that are available at the restaurants throughout the city. Fresh seafood is commonplace in many of the dishes. Oysters and crawfish are particularly popular. Po-boys are a local sandwich that are made with a po-boy loaf and fried shrimp or oysters. The Muffaletta is also a local sandwich that is made on a large, round Italian loaf with sliced meats like salami and capicola, cheeses, and olive salad. For some great restaurant suggestions, see
where the locals eat in New Orleans. Other local dishes include gumbo or red beans and rice. Bananas Foster is a well known, local dessert that is made with warm bananas mixed with brown sugar, cinnamon, butter, rum and ice cream (
recipe). Other sweets include beignets and pralines.
Transportation
If you plan to spend all of your time in the French Quarter, then a car is not necessary for your trip to New Orleans. Finding parking, even at your hotel, may be difficult. There is a rapid transit system, streetcars and buses that run throughout the day. It's also possible to walk through most parts of the French Quarter. During the late night time hours you're probably better off calling a taxi, but the prices are reasonable. It's also possible to rent a bike and explore the city.
The Riverfront, Canal Street and St. Charles streetcars all travel past many of the most interesting sights. There is also a new streetcar line that opened in 2013 along Loyola Avenue that connects Canal Street to the main public library and Union Terminal. Fares are cheap.
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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.