Yes, New Orleans has its challenges. From rising insurance premiums to housing pressure, the issues we face are real, and they deserve attention. But so often lately, Big Easy Magazine has focused on what is broken and the challenges that persist. We do that because we love the city, and we believe it’s worth fighting for so it can remain the icon it’s always been. It’s time to remind ourselves and the rest of the country why New Orleans remains one of the best places to live in America.
Here’s what keeps people here, and why it’s worth fighting for:
1. We Still Have One of the Lowest Costs of Living Among Major U.S. Cities
Compared to cities like San Francisco, New York, Austin, or even Nashville, New Orleans remains far more affordable. Housing prices, even with recent spikes, are still within reach for many working families. Rent is lower than most U.S. metros, groceries are cheaper, and you can eat a world-class meal for under $20 like Frady’s One Stop in Bywater, Willie Mae’s Scotch House, or Bennachin. In a country where the middle class is being squeezed from every side, New Orleans still offers room to breathe—if just barely.
2. Our Food Isn’t Just Good—It’s a Way of Life
You don’t move to New Orleans for bland, cookie-cutter menus. You stay for the corner po’boy shop (yes, they still exist), the crawfish boils in someone’s backyard, and the fact that your local gas station might have better fried chicken than half the restaurants in other cities. Food here is communal. It tells a story and brings people together. And unlike trendy food scenes elsewhere, ours was never a trend to begin with.
3. Live Music Still Happens on the Street
Walk down Frenchmen, or even just through the Quarter, and you’ll hear a trumpet, a tuba, a voice lifting over the hum of a crowd. We don’t lock our music in overpriced venues or silent headphones. It’s part of the landscape. New Orleans is one of the few cities left in the U.S. where music still belongs to the people, and that’s something you can’t put a price on.
4. Our Homes Are One of a Kind
There’s no mistaking a New Orleans house. From Creole cottages to shotgun doubles to camelbacks with iron-laced balconies, the architecture here is beautiful and alive. These homes have history, personality, and a deep connection to the neighborhoods they sit in. They tell the story of who we are, and they stand out in a sea of generic developments taking over other cities.
5. We Know How to Live (and Laugh) Through It All
New Orleanians don’t take life too seriously. We do, however, take joy seriously. We second line for weddings and funerals alike. We turn storms into block parties (once they pass), and we dance in the streets because we can. This city has taught generations how to find celebration in hardship, humor in the chaos, and rhythm in the everyday.
6. Our Politics Aren’t Perfect, But We’re More Progressive Than Most
If we are being honest with ourselves, no city government is flawless. But the New Orleans City Council has shown more political courage than many of its peers, especially when it comes to reining in short-term rentals. As of March 2025, the city now limits STRs to one per block, with no exceptions. That’s a major win for long-term residents and a sign that the city is willing to push back against corporate interests in defense of its communities.
7. New Orleans Is Getting National Recognition
New Orleans hasn’t gone unnoticed on the national stage. In 2024, Southern Living ranked it #4 on its list of the South’s Best Cities, highlighting our music, food, and cultural identity. U.S. News & World Report listed it as one of the Best Places to Live in Louisiana, and Niche named us one of the Top 50 Best Cities for Young Professionals in the U.S. and one of the Most Diverse Cities in America. For all the problems we face, New Orleans still stands out for what it offers—authenticity, creativity, and a lifestyle you can’t replicate anywhere else.
8. There’s a Festival (or Parade) Every Other Weekend
Other cities schedule joy, but we live it. Between Jazz Fest, French Quarter Fest, Satchmo SummerFest, and second lines nearly every Sunday, there’s always something happening. Even small neighborhood events turn into unforgettable memories. In New Orleans, community celebration is uniquely New Orleans experience.
9. We’re Still a Real Community
In New Orleans, people say hello to strangers. Neighbors check in. A conversation at the grocery store can last twenty minutes, and no one’s mad about it. This is a city where people know each other. In a world growing more disconnected by the day, that means everything.
10. We’re Worth Saving
The food, the music, the people, the history are the very reasons people fall in love with New Orleans and are the reasons we have to protect it. Yes, the problems are serious. But so is the potential. This is not a city that’s beyond hope. It’s a city worth standing up for.
At Big Easy Magazine, we don’t just cover what’s going wrong, but we believe in accountability because we believe our culture is worth preserving. New Orleans still has the heart, the culture, and the spirit that most places only dream about. That’s why we live here.
