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New Orleans on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Yes, New Orleans can be done on a budget thanks to cheap food, free music and $1.25 streetcars. Allow about US$125 a day per person for a hostel or shared room, simple meals and transport.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | US$60 | US$130 | US$300 |
| Food & drink | US$40 | US$80 | US$160 |
| Sights & tickets | US$20 | US$50 | US$120 |
| Local transport | US$5 | US$15 | US$40 |
| Per person, per day | US$125 | US$275 | US$620 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our New Orleans day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Jackson Square, St Louis Cathedral and the street performers
- Live music on Frenchmen Street (many bars have no cover; tip the band)
- The Garden District's mansions on foot
- City Park and its sculpture garden
- Crescent Park along the Mississippi in the Bywater
- Mardi Gras parades (February or early March)
Cheap eats
- Beignets: roughly $5–8 for three
- Red beans and rice: about $10–15, often a Monday special
- Po'boy: about $13–20 for a full sandwich
- Cup of gumbo: roughly $8–12
- Muffuletta from a deli to share: about $15–30
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in hostels in Mid-City and the Lower Garden District, with dorm beds roughly $30–60 (much more during festivals).
Getting around cheaply
Walk the French Quarter and use streetcars and buses with a Jazzy Pass. From the airport, the Airport Express bus (E2) runs to the centre for a few dollars, much less than a taxi (a flat rate of roughly $40 for two).
A sample budget day
- Morning: beignets at the French Market, about $7, and Jackson Square (free)
- Lunch: po'boy, about $15
- Afternoon: St Charles streetcar ($1.25) to the Garden District (free)
- Evening: red beans and rice and free music on Frenchmen Street, with tips, about $25
- Total: about $125 including a hostel bed
More ways to save
- Visit in summer or early December for the lowest hotel prices.
- Buy a muffuletta to share between two or three people.
- Join a free walking tour (tip-based) of the French Quarter.
- Pick one paid museum, such as the WWII Museum, rather than several.
- Drink from 'go cups' in the street rather than paying bar prices for every drink.
- Book swamp tours that include transport so you do not need a rental car.
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Common questions
How much do I need per day?
About $125 per person: $60 for a bed, $40 for food, $20 for sights and $5 for transport.
What is free in New Orleans?
Jackson Square, Frenchmen Street music, the Garden District, City Park and the parades.
How do I get from the airport cheaply?
The Airport Express bus (E2) costs a few dollars. Taxis charge a flat rate of roughly $40 for two people.