Moving/Relocating to New Orleans: 8 Clever Tips To Know & Important Advice

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Have you ever felt like you’re not living your life to the fullest? Are you thinking of making a change? Perhaps the thought of moving to a new city, trying their food and indulging in their culture excites you?

If yes, then you might want to consider living in New Orleans! With a unique culture that appreciates celebrations and festivities, the city offers many different opportunities to work, play and relax.

If you’re looking for some “moving to New Orleans advice”, this blog post will fill you in on the 8 things you need to know before moving to New Orleans.

1. Basic Things To Know Before Moving To New Orleans

Before you move to New Orleans, let’s get to know the basics of this city!

Located along the Mississippi River in the southeastern region of the U.S. state of Louisiana, New Orleans (aka NOLA) is the state’s most populous city.

NOLA, also known as The Big Easy, is widely known to be home to distinctive music, Creole cuisine, unique dialects, and its annual celebrations and festivals, most notably Mardi Gras, due to its unique and complex history involving France and Spain.

Hence it is not surprising that NOLA houses some historical legacies, including the widely known French Quarter.

2. Which NOLA District Is For You?

If you are considering living in New Orleans, you have to know the districts and neighbourhoods to choose the most suitable area for your lifestyle.

NOLA is commonly divided into 3 distinct areas: the East Bank, Eastern New Orleans, and West Bank. These areas are further divided into districts and then neighbourhoods.

Let’s take a look at some of the major districts:

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French Quarter / CBD (District 1a & 1b)

French Quarter is probably the most well-known district in NOLA. Designated as a National Historic Landmark, the district houses historic buildings mostly constructed during the Spanish rule in the late 18th century or after the U.S. statehood in the first half of the 19th century.

Basically, as you walk along the streets, you’d be able to find intriguing architecture influenced by the city’s history in the French Quarter.

Also known as Vieux Carré, the French Quarter’s location at a sharp bend in the Mississippi River has accorded New Orleans the nickname Crescent City.

About a mile south of the French Quarter lies the Central Business District (CBD), where well-known businesses, hotels and attractions such as stadiums, museums and casinos can be found.

Image Credit: Unsplash

Garden District Area (District 2)

If you prefer a quieter neighbourhood that is not too far away from the attractions offered by the French Quarter and the CBD, then check out the Garden District!

Characterized by its historical mansions, the area is where most of the city’s large plantation owners lived during the 18th and 19th centuries. It is home to various attractions such as cafes, restaurants, art galleries, and antique shops. So you’d find yourself wanting to explore this neighbourhood for days!

If you do move into this neighbourhood, don’t forget to ride the streetcar for some sightseeing!

Bywater Area (District 7)

For those who can appreciate a more vibrant neighbourhood, the Bywater area might just be perfect for you!

Known for its colourful, sassy and “hipsterrific” vibe, residents can expect to see various galleries by local artisans, funky live music venues, and art markets in the Bywater district.

This district is popular among young professionals, often paired with the neighbouring Marigny neighbourhood and just 10 minutes from downtown.

3. Charming Historic Homes

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OK, so we’ve talked about what you can expect to find in the major districts, but what about the housing options? Well, NOLA offers a wide range of homes, including common historic homes such as:

Creole Cottages

Commonly found in the French Quarter, and usually distinguished by their roofline, picket fence and shuttered windows.

Shotguns And Double Shotguns

Throughout the city, shotguns are one-room wide long homes typically consisting of two bedrooms, one bath with the kitchen and a bath in the back. A double shotgun is a two-family duplex with a shared wall.

Image Credit: Unsplash

Centre-Hall Houses

Centre-hall houses consist of a centre door flanked by two windows on each side, a centre hallway, and a gabled roof. They can be found in Uptown, the Garden District, Marigny, Carrolton and the French Quarter.

Townhomes

Usually found in the CBD, French Quarter, Marigny and Bywater, these two-story homes are usually built at the front of the property line with a balcony on the second floor.

Bungalows

Bungalows are not the traditional New Orleans historic home. Usually found in Gentilly and Broadmoor, these newer-style homes often have street parking.

4. Schools And Universities In New Orleans

Before you make a big move, it’s always good to know the opportunities that exist in your chosen destination. For Families with children, schools and universities are of utmost importance.

More than a third of the colleges and universities in Louisiana are located in the New Orleans metro area, making it convenient when you’re living in New Orleans. A lot of them even offer dorms for students who want to experience living in the city first-hand!

Image Credit: Freepik

Tulane University is the most renowned school in NOLA. Ranking #41 in national universities is known as one of the best private research institutions in the South. Though it was originally founded for medical training, it offers numerous degrees such as Business Management and Psychology with several law and engineering degree programs on the way.

Other universities you may consider include The University of New Orleans, Loyola University New Orleans and the Xavier University of Louisiana.

5. Fun, Food And Festivals

When you’re living in New Orleans, be sure to join in the fun! As we have established in the beginning, this city can really party!

Image Credit: Freepik

NOLA is known for its Mardi Gras festivities in the French Quarter, more specifically along Bourbon Street. Traditionally celebrated on “Fat Tuesday,” the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent, Mardi Gras in NOLA has evolved to be a couple of weeks long, not counting the preparations that run year-round!

There is even an active countdown to the next Mardi Gras! Yes, that’s how seriously New Orleanians take their festivities!

Aside from Mardi Gras, other festivals you can take part in are the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (aka Jazz Fest), Oktoberfest, National Fried Chicken Fest as well as the French Quarter Festival. As you can see, NOLA celebrates almost everything, from music to food and drinks! Your weekends will be far from mundane when you’re living in New Orleans!

6. Music Scene In NOLA

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Even on days where there are no festivals, the streets of New Orleans would be filled with music! “Every day is lively in this city where buskers and street musicians are common in NOLA, especially along Jackson Square and the river!”

If you think you’ve seen how much music means to the people of New Orleans, hold your horses! NOLA even has a listener-supported, non-commercial radio station called WWOZ that specializes in music from or relating to the cultural heritage of New Orleans and the surrounding region of Louisiana.

7. NOLA Sports Scene

Besides food and music, the sports scene in New Orleans is also pretty impressive!

In a nutshell, the city has hosted the Superbowl 10 times since 1970 in Tulane Stadium and the Caesars Superdome (formerly Louisiana Superdome and Mercedes-Benz Superdome), making it second only to Miami. The city is anticipated to tie with Miami when it hosts the 2025 Superbowl in the Caesars Superdome.

Image Credit: Unsplash

New Orleanians can be proud of the blooming sports landscape in their city. It is home to professional sports teams such as:

  • New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL);
  • the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA);
  • the Big Easy Rollergirls, an all-female flat-track roller derby team; and
  • the New Orleans Blaze, a women’s football team.

8. Getting Around Town

New Orleans offers a variety of transportation options. In addition to those you would expect, such as cars, buses and cabs, you could also try the streetcars, pedicabs and ferries for a different experience, though they may not be your go-to daily commute to work or school.

Image Credit: Unsplash

Alternatively, you may bask in the charming streets of NOLA by cycling. With bikes available for rent and 100 miles of bike lanes available throughout the city, cycling is definitely a viable option to get around town.

Much like Savannah, New Orleans is a pretty walkable city, especially in the French Quarter and CBD districts.

Conclusion About Moving To New Orleans

New Orleans is a city of culture, food and festivities. It’s also a place where music pervades everyday life – even when there are no festivals going on. For this reason alone, New Orleanians can be proud to say they’re living the dream! But wait, it gets better! There are dozens of neighbourhoods to choose from, each with its own unique flavour that will keep your life exciting every day!

So many choices mean endless opportunities for moving or relocating to New Orleans could work out perfectly for you. When you’re ready to make a move, Sanelo will be here to help!

Or, perhaps you’re interested to know more about other cities along the Mississippi River? If so, you can check out our guides for moving to Minneapolis, St Louis and Memphis!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Moving To New Orleans

How Is The Climate And Weather Like In New Orleans?

New Orleans generally experience short and mild winters with rare snow, whereas its summers are characterised as hot and humid.

New Orleans is known to be vulnerable to hurricanes and tropical cyclones. However, after the catastrophic Hurricane Katrina in 2005, massive levee repair and hurricane protection measures have been implemented, and $7 billion has been allocated by the U.S Congress to bolster flood protection.

What Are Some Notable Industries In New Orleans To Work In?

Cargo and freight industries are definitely worth considering as the Port of New Orleans is the fifth-largest in the United States based on cargo volume. Many shipbuilding, shipping, logistics, freight forwarding and commodity brokerage firms either are based in metropolitan New Orleans or maintain a local presence.

The petroleum industry is also worth noting as NOLA is located near the Gulf of Mexico and its many oil rigs and refineries.

Tourism is another industry not to be missed. It is a $5.5 billion industry that accounts for 40 per cent of city tax revenues, making it a staple of the city’s economy.

WorkNOLA provides various employment tools for job seekers and employers in the Greater New Orleans region. Some tools include job openings and résumés, education and training, job market data, and more.

What Is The Cost Of Living In New Orleans Per Month?

If you’re moving to NOLA as a family of four, the estimated monthly costs are USD 3,414.70 without rent.

The cost of a single person is estimated at USD 973.73, excluding rent.

Numbeo provides a more detailed calculation for the cost of living in NOLA, including the estimated costs of utilities, transportation, groceries and so on.

How Can Sanelo Help Me With Moving To New Orleans?

Here at Sanelo, we provide top-notch relocation services with shipment protection so you’ll have peace of mind. It doesn’t matter where you’re coming from; Sanelo offers relocation services for both international moving and local moving.

Contact us today for binding quotes!

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