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New Orleans or New York? An honest comparison
The short answer
Pick New York for a first big US city trip: museums, Broadway, food from every culture and a subway that runs all night. Pick New Orleans for live music every night, Creole and Cajun cooking, historic streets and a slower, warmer pace. New Orleans is cheaper by our numbers — about €242 a day mid-range against €281 in New York.
New Orleans: suits couples and friends who want live jazz, distinctive local food, historic architecture and long nights out.
New York: suits first-timers and solo travellers who want museums, theatre, neighbourhood walks and endless food choices.
Side by side
| New Orleans | New York | |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-range day* | €244 US$275 local | €284 $319 local |
| Budget day* | €111 | €156 |
| Value for money | ●●●●●Cheaper hotels and food than most big US cities. | ●●●●●Expensive hotels, but walking and cheap eats help. |
| Crowds (5 = calm) | ●●●●●Calm much of the year; Mardi Gras and festivals pack it. | ●●●●●Midtown, Times Square and the big museums are packed. |
| Food | ●●●●●Gumbo, po'boys and beignets; a cuisine found nowhere else. | ●●●●●Every cuisine at every price, from slices to tasting menus. |
| Nightlife | ●●●●●Live music every night on Frenchmen Street and beyond. | ●●●●●Bars, clubs and live music open late everywhere. |
| Family-friendly | ●●●●●Streetcars and the aquarium help; Bourbon Street does not. | ●●●●●Great museums and parks, but crowded subways and small rooms. |
| Getting around | ●●●●●French Quarter on foot, streetcars to the Garden District. | ●●●●●24-hour subway and a walkable grid; no car needed. |
| Best months | Oct, Nov | May |
| Warmest / coolest | Aug 32°C / Jan 17°C | Jul 30°C / Jan 5°C |
| Known for | French Quarter, Jackson Square, St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, Garden District | Empire State Building, Broadway shows, Brooklyn Bridge, world-class museums |
* Per person per day with two sharing a room: bed, food, sights and local transport, from our New Orleans and New York day-cost tables (approximate 2026 prices; other currencies converted at recent rates). Ratings are our editorial judgement.
Which one should you pick?
Pick New Orleans if…
- Live music is a priority
- you want to eat Creole and Cajun food at the source
- you prefer a smaller city with a slower pace
- you are visiting in October or November
Pick New York if…
- It is your first trip to the US
- you want museums, galleries and a Broadway show
- you want a different neighbourhood to explore every day
- you are visiting around May
Weather month by month
| Month | New Orleans high / rainy days | New York high / rainy days |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 17°C · 10 | 5°C · 11 |
| Feb | 19°C · 12 | 6°C · 11 |
| Mar | 23°C · 14 | 11°C · 10 |
| Apr | 25°C · 15 | 16°C · 11 |
| May | 29°C · 16 | 21°C · 9 |
| Jun | 31°C · 20 | 26°C · 11 |
| Jul | 31°C · 25 | 30°C · 14 |
| Aug | 32°C · 19 | 29°C · 14 |
| Sep | 30°C · 15 | 25°C · 11 |
| Oct | 26°C · 8 | 19°C · 10 |
| Nov | 20°C · 9 | 12°C · 8 |
| Dec | 19°C · 10 | 9°C · 11 |
Average daily high and number of rainy days. Copernicus ERA5, 2021–2023.
What you will eat
New Orleans
Gumbo · Po'boy · Beignets and café au lait · Jambalaya · Red beans and rice · Muffuletta
Where: French Market, French Quarter, Tremé and the Seventh Ward, Magazine Street and the Garden District
New York
New York slice · Bagel with cream cheese · Pastrami on rye · Halal cart chicken and rice · Dumplings and roast pork buns · Cannoli
Where: Chinatown and Little Italy (Manhattan), Lower East Side and Essex Market, Chelsea Market, Flushing (Queens)
Doing both in one trip
7 days: 4 in New York + 3 in New Orleans
Start in New York for long sightseeing days, then slow down in New Orleans with music and food. Book open-jaw flights to avoid flying back.
Getting between them: Non-stop flight, about 3 h, plus airport time. The Amtrak Crescent train also links the two cities, but it takes around 30 hours. Distance about 1,880 km as the crow flies. Check current timetables.
- Day 1–4: New York — Central Park and the Met, Brooklyn Bridge on foot, a Broadway show, Chinatown and the Lower East Side for food
- Day 5: Fly to New Orleans, evening in the French Quarter
- Day 6–7: Streetcar to the Garden District, Tremé, beignets and gumbo, live music on Frenchmen Street
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Common questions
Is New Orleans or New York cheaper?
New Orleans. Our mid-range estimate is about €242 per person per day against €281 in New York. Hotels and restaurants cost less in New Orleans, and much of its best music is in small bars with low cover charges. New York's hotels are the main expense, though walking and the subway keep transport costs low.
When is the best time to visit each?
Our data favours October and November for New Orleans, when heat and humidity ease, and May for New York. New Orleans is very hot and humid in summer, with August highs around 32°C, and hurricane season runs from June to November. New York is cold in January, around 5°C, and humid in July.
Is Mardi Gras worth planning a trip around?
If you want parades, costumes and a city-wide party, yes; it is unlike anything else in the US. It falls in February or early March depending on the year, with weeks of parades before the main day. Hotels fill early and prices rise sharply. For a calmer visit focused on food and music, autumn is better.
Can I take the train between New York and New Orleans?
Yes. Amtrak's Crescent runs between New York Penn Station and New Orleans via Washington, Atlanta and Birmingham, taking around 30 hours. It suits travellers who enjoy slow journeys and want to see the South, ideally with a sleeper. For most people, the non-stop flight of about 3 hours is far more practical.