What Living in New Orleans really Like!

Must read this. Will change your life.

by Al Lloyd

There’s just something about New Orleans that gets to you. My mom, friends, and I visited often and volunteered here after Hurricane Katrina, but being a resident is a totally different story. I had to get a regular job and is often working on my apartment instead of partying on Bourbon Street. But even when you’re adulting, New Orleans is a weird and wonderful—and very fun—place to live.

Case in point: There are few New Orleanians who don’t have a costume closet. This city likes to dress up and there’s no better time than Carnival season when NOLA is dripping in beads and dotted with colorful wigs, and the air is filled with the sounds of marching bands. And while the Mardi Gras season may only be a couple of weeks long, preparations run year-round. The best part: You can meet instant friends by joining a krewe or dance troop. Yes, adult dance troops exist here and they’re marvelous.

Aside from that big ol’ party, the city is known for exceptional food and music year-round. New Orleanians are passionate about their cuisine and often talk about what’s for dinner while they’re eating lunch. Dining out in the city runs the gamut from divey po-boy shops to historic jacket-required restaurants—and each are beloved in their own way. Eater New Orleans is a great resource to find out what’s new and noteworthy—and I love Ian McNulty’s food writing for The Advocate. Music can be found every day, all over the city and WWOZ, the city’s (incredible!) listener-supported radio station, announces the live music schedule every odd hour. In addition, there’s a festival for just about every occasion (po-boy, whiskey, beignet, barbecue, blues, you name it) and most of them are free to attend.

NewOrleans.com is a great resource with updated festival schedules, new restaurant openings, and general information on what’s happening around the city. The Convention and Visitors Bureau here is made up of super fun, fresh, and well-informed locals who know NOLA inside and out. I also love Babes & Beignets, a go-to blog for all-things NOLA, like where to find the best bottomless brunches, festival hacks and restaurant guides.

Have you ever been to French Quarter

• Yes
• No

And the one thing people always ask: Yes, it’s hot. In fact, it’s downright miserable in August. Fun Fact I showed up to my marketing job in a suit and tie, never again! People say that there are four seasons in New Orleans: carnival, crawfish, sno-ball, and football.

New Orleans Cost of Living

According to the Zumper National Rental Price Index, New Orleans ranked as the 21st most expensive city to rent in the U.S. with a one-bedroom apartment averaging $1,725 in April 2020. I bought my one-bedroom, one-bathroom shotgun-style apartment (the classic long and narrow NOLA style) after coming straight from dorm life for many years in Kentucky; a desire for working was one reason that I moved to New Orleans.

Moving to New Orleans, Advice

Don’t wait around for an invitation—host a party for a bunch of strangers! We put an invite on every neighbors’ door that said, “Hi, I'm the new guy who moved into 19, and I love to meet you. Come for drinks and small bites.” Unlike major cities like LA or Nashville (where I mostly live), people in New Orleans are quite friendly with their neighbors. But know this: New Orleanians love nothing more than a party, so buy more wine than you think you’ll need. And then buy one more “just in case” case. That small get-together resulted in some of our dearest friends that live just a few steps away. Also, you want to avoid getting places in the east of Gentitlity, the crime rate here is atrocious.

Moving to New Orleans Alone

Someone once told me to always leave your place 10 minutes early to arrive on time because everyone you see in New Orleans does the “stop and chat.” NOLA feels more like a small town, and everyone is super friendly. After just one week of living here, I met my now-great friend from needing an apartment. Huge shout out to Judy. She was also a realtor and had made a huge network of buddies in New Orleans and offered to introduce me to her group. It almost felt like a first date: Would she call? Would we have anything in common? The next day, she emailed and invited me to a book club, a wine club, and a yoga class with her group of girlfriends— I have not accepted any of those but plan on it. I hope to return the favor. My lesson: Be open to invitations, and they will come. Go on friend dates, Tinder dates, mom friend dates, or dog park dates—people in this city live to socialize. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, too, but folks here work to live, not the other way around, so there is always something fun to do.

Moving to New Orleans, Where to Live

Before moving, I visited New Orleans often and found that staying in Airbnbs was the best way to discover which neighborhood worked best for me. Here, most of the hotels are in the French Quarter and Central Business District (though they’re popping up in more neighborhoods every month) and I wanted to expand our search beyond the more popular tourist zones. I stayed in the super hip Bywater, far Uptown in Carrolton, and the Garden District. Ultimately, I settled on the Burbank area in Metaraie. This neighborhood allows us to easily walk up the lake or catch a ride downtown, and I am right across from beautiful homes and well know restaurants. Being in a busy and central location eased the transition from Tennessee to New Orleans as I very rarely use a car. In fact, I’ve only driven a handful of times since moving to NOLA, and the majority has been uber rides. Fun fact the roads are extremely horrible here. Louisana ranks as the second most expensive state for car insurance, so I rent or uber a vehicle.