Moving from Jacksonville, FL to New Orleans, LA
It is 537 mi between Jacksonville and New Orleans — roughly 9h 48m of driving, plus rest stops and overnight, through 4 state(s). A long-haul move crosses climate zones and usually state-income-tax lines. This page assembles the federal and Zillow data into a side-by-side comparison so the differences are easy to scan.
537 mi · 9h 48m by car · FL → AL → MS → LA
Distance & route
| Route through | FL → AL → MS → LA |
|---|---|
| Primary highways | I 10, US 17, FL 228 |
| Major cities en route | Tallahassee, Mobile |
Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.
Cost of living
| Jacksonville | New Orleans | U.S. avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items (RPP) | 99.484 | 92.597 | 100.0 |
| Rents | 87.514 | 71.231 | 100.0 |
| Goods | 96.24 | 93.691 | 100.0 |
| Services | 109.777 | 86.009 | 100.0 |
Moderate COL drop: 6.9% cheaper overall in New Orleans than Jacksonville on the 2024 BEA RPP.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level · MSA-level); 2024.
Housing prices
Housing comes in 6.9% under Jacksonville — $282,895 → $242,493 on the latest ZHVI.
YoY change: Jacksonville -3.1%, New Orleans -3.2%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.
Climate
| 1991–2020 normals | Jacksonville | New Orleans |
|---|---|---|
| Annual avg temperature | 71°F | 71°F |
| January avg low | 47°F | 47°F |
| July avg high | 92°F | 91°F |
| Annual snowfall | 0.0" | 0.1" |
| Annual precipitation | 47.6" | 60.1" |
No material annual-average temperature gap; seasonal extremes may still differ.
Effectively snow-free year in New Orleans — NOAA normals show near-zero annual snowfall.
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: JACKSONVILLE NAS, FL US, NEW ORLEANS LAKEFRONT AP, LA US).
Demographics
| ACS 5-year 2023 | Jacksonville | New Orleans |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 961,739 | 376,035 |
| Median household income | $66,981 | $55,339 |
| Median age | 36.4 | 38.4 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.6% | 22.5% |
| Avg household size | 2.5 | 2.43 |
Households in New Orleans earn about 6.9% less at the median — ACS 5-year 2023.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.
Jobs & wages
Top occupations in New Orleans MSA
| Occupation | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Office and Administrative Support Occupations | 64,460 | $38,680 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | 59,980 | $26,320 |
| Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | 48,630 | $37,420 |
| Sales and Related Occupations | 48,580 | $31,100 |
| Management Occupations | 33,120 | $101,850 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Moving between Florida and Louisiana
State income-tax top marginal rates are from the Tax Foundation, updated annually. Check Louisiana's DMV for the current deadline to transfer driver license and vehicle registration after establishing residency. Consult a tax professional for your specific filing situation — state tax treatment depends on residency, sourcing, and reciprocity agreements.
Best time to move
Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.
To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.
Packing & arrival checklist
- Air conditioning matters: July highs in New Orleans average 91°F on NOAA normals. If the new place has window-unit or no AC, plan that purchase for the first week.
- Pack rain gear on top: New Orleans averages 60.1 in of annual precipitation — waterproof jackets and boots are worth unpacking before the big boxes.
- Hurricane season runs June through November — stock a basic emergency kit during unpack.
- Arrange utility connection (power, internet, gas, water) two weeks ahead of move-in.
- Update mailing address with USPS change-of-address within the first week post-move.
- Register to vote in Louisiana after establishing residency.
Frequently asked
How far is New Orleans, LA from Jacksonville, FL?
The driving distance is 537 mi and the route typically takes 9h 48m via I 10 and US 17. The trip crosses 4 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.
Is New Orleans more expensive than Jacksonville?
Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in New Orleans is 6.9% lower than Jacksonville (92.597 vs 99.484, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.
How much do homes cost in New Orleans compared to Jacksonville?
Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $242,493 in New Orleans vs $282,895 in Jacksonville — a 14.3% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.
How does the job market in New Orleans compare to Jacksonville?
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $43,510 in the New Orleans MSA vs $45,420 in the Jacksonville MSA, on total employment of 514,800 and 740,520 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.
How does household income compare in Jacksonville vs New Orleans?
Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $55,339 in New Orleans vs $66,981 in Jacksonville — a 17.4% lower figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.
When is the best time to move from Jacksonville to New Orleans?
Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 537 mi drive, weather on the route matters too — see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.
What is the climate difference between Jacksonville and New Orleans?
On NOAA 1991–2020 normals, annual average temperature is 70.9°F in New Orleans vs 71.4°F in Jacksonville (0.5°F colder). Annual snowfall: 0.1 in vs 0.0 in. Annual precipitation: 60.1 in vs 47.6 in.
Plan the move
Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Jacksonville.
City profiles: Jacksonville, FL · New Orleans, LA.