Culture and Attractions
- Cooking Classes
- New Orleans School of Cooking, Mardi Gras School of Cooking
- Art Galleries
- Julia Street Galleries, M.S. Rau Antiques
- Historic Buildings
- Hermann-Grima House, Gallier House, Old Ursuline Convent
- Local Heritage
- Fleur-de-lis (City symbol), Brass Band culture, Mardi Gras Indians
- Must-See Landmarks
- Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, Garden District Mansions
- Museums & Art Venues
- National WWII Museum ($32), NOMA (New Orleans Museum of Art), Contemporary Arts Center
- Historical Sites
- The Cabildo, The Presbytère, Chalmette Battlefield
- Religious Sites
- St. Louis Cathedral, Immaculate Conception Church
- Annual Events
- Mardi Gras (Feb/March), Jazz & Heritage Festival (April/May), Voodoo Experience
- Cultural Districts
- Treme (Oldest African American neighborhood), Arts District (Warehouse District)
- Theater Venues
- Saenger Theatre, Orpheum Theater, Le Petit Theatre
- Local Markets
- French Market (Daily), Palace Market Frenchmen (Art/Night market)
- Music Scene
- Tipitina's, Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro, Preservation Hall
- Street Art
- Studio BE (Bywater), Banksy’s 'Rain Girl' (Marigny)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- City Park (Sculpture garden and lagoons), Audubon Park
- National Parks Nearby
- Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve (Barataria Preserve)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Lafitte Greenway (3-mile linear park), Mississippi River Trail
- Scenic Viewpoints
- The Fly (River sunset behind Audubon Zoo), Crescent Park Pier
- Birdwatching Locations
- Couturie Forest in City Park, Bayou Sauvage Urban Wildlife Refuge
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Mississippi River Levee (Algiers side - Check local permits/seasonal bans)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- FedEx Office, UPS Store, USPS (Main Office on Loyola Ave)
- Tech Repair Services
- Wisp (Metairie/New Orleans), uBreakiFix
- Table Tennis Spots
- Shamrock (Mid-City), various local bars like Emporium Arcade Bar
- Language Classes
- Alliance Française, Casa de España
- Libraries & Study Spots
- New Orleans Public Library - Main Branch, Rosa F. Keller Library
- Community Centers
- Treme Recreation Community Center, Ashe Cultural Arts Center
- Gaming Lounges
- SeaCave Arcade (Bywater), SeaCave Gaming & Cocktails
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Harrah's New Orleans Casino (Downtown)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $6,800 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $272,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $3,200 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $128,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $6,200 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $372,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $2,900 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $174,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $5,800 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $464,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $2,600 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $208,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 21% (Federal) + 3.5% to 7.5% (Louisiana State)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 30% (Standard Federal rate for non-residents, treaty-dependent)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for US Citizens; physical presence test for residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 37% (Federal) + 4.25% (Louisiana State)
- VAT
- 9.45% (Combined State and City Sales Tax - No VAT in US)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, complex GILTI and Subpart F rules apply
- Property Tax
- Yes, based on assessed value (Millages vary by Orleans Parish district)
- Property Transaction Tax
- Doc stamps and recording fees (approx. 0.5% - 1% of sale price)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific digital nomad visa; tax is high compared to international tax havens
Essentials
- City
- New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
- Population
- 383,000 (Metropolitan area: 1.2 million)
- Internet Speed
- Average 150-300 Mbps (AT&T Fiber and Cox Communications available)
- Currency & Banking
- USD ($). 1 EUR ≈ 0.92 USD. Major banks: Chase, Hancock Whitney, Capital One
- Tap Water
- Safe to drink, though many locals prefer filters due to the old piping infrastructure
- Power
- 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets
- SIM Card
- T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon. Prepaid eSIMs via Airalo or Mint Mobile (approx. $30/month)
- Banking for Expats
- Wise, Revolut, or Charles Schwab (for ATM fee rebates)
- Accommodation
- Zillow, Apartments.com, and Landing (furnished corporate housing)
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, credit cards and Apple Pay are accepted almost everywhere; cash is still common in dive bars
- Short Term Rentals
- Sonder, Blueground, and Airbnb (strictly regulated in residential zones)
- Budget Accommodation
- India House Hostel ($35/night), HI New Orleans Hostel ($45/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- French Quarter for history, Lower Garden District for boutiques and bars
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Bywater (trendy/artsy), Mid-City (local feel/green space), and Marigny
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- The Shop at the CAC ($275/month for hot desk), Launch Pad ($250/month)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Mojo Coffee Roasters (Magazine St), Mammoth Espresso, Stumptown Coffee
- Networking Events
- NOLA Tech Week, Propeller (social innovation), New Orleans Chamber of Commerce events
- Social Events for Expats
- New Orleans Expats Meetup, Alliance Française de la Nouvelle-Orléans
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber and Lyft (widely available), Curb for traditional taxis
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Blue Bikes (E-bike share, $0.15/minute), various rental shops like Rouler for long-term
- Best Beach Nearby
- Ship Island, MS (2-hour trip including ferry) or Gulf Shores, AL (3 hours)
- Top Regional Airline
- Southwest Airlines (MSY Airport)
- Top International Airline
- British Airways (direct to London), Delta, United
- Highway Access
- I-10 (East-West), I-610, and US-90 (the Pontchartrain Expressway)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Union Passenger Terminal (Amtrak and Greyhound)
- Public Transport Passes
- LePass App: $3.00 for a 24-hour Jazzy Pass (Streetcars and Buses)
- Regional Travel
- Amtrak City of New Orleans (to Chicago), Amtrak Sunset Limited (to LA)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Ochsner Medical Center, LCMC Health University Medical Center
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Swan River Yoga ($20 drop-in), Wild Lotus Yoga, Romney Studios
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- New Orleans Athletic Club (Historic, $100+/month), Franco's on Magazine
- Laundry Services
- Checkmate Laundromat, Wishy Washy (Wash/Dry/Fold approx $1.50/lb)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- UberEats, DoorDash, Waitr (ASAP)
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Gumbo (Dooky Chase), Po-boys (Parkway Bakery), Beignets (Cafe Du Monde)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Sneaky Pickle, Meals from the Heart Cafe, Sweet Soulfood (Vegan Soul Food)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Hansen’s Sno-Bliz, Angelo Brocato (Italian ice/pastries), Bakery Bar
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Trader Joe's (Metairie), Crescent City Farmers Market
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon, eBay, Walmart.com
- Grocery Delivery
- Instacart, Whole Foods via Amazon Prime, Shipt
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Frenchmen Street (Live Jazz), Bourbon Street (Touristy), St. Claude Ave (Alternative)
- Local Brewery
- Urban South Brewery, NOLA Brewing Co, Faubourg Brewing Co
- Wine Bars
- Bacchanal Wine (Live music/courtyard), The Independent, Bayou Wine Garden
- Street Food Stalls
- Pythian Market, St. Roch Market
- Popular International Cuisine
- Lilly’s Cafe (Vietnamese), Shaya (Israeli/Modern Middle Eastern)