How Much Does it Cost to Build a House in New Orleans?

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New Orleans is often hailed as the city of Mardi Gras. It’s a cultural center with a bustling nightlife and truly unique sights, traditions and a colorful blend of people. The city is often referred to as The Big Easy since aspiring musicians flock to New Orleans due to the sheer number of clubs, bars, and entertainment venues, which makes it easy to book gigs and performances. In fact, New Orleans is considered the spiritual birthplace of jazz in the United States.

Consequently, tourism plays a significant role in The Big Easy’s economy. Cultural gatherings such as the World Cultural Economic Forum are held in the city. In addition, the world’s largest celebration of Mardi Gras is also celebrated in New Orleans, in which locals drape themselves in colorful wardrobes to celebrate.

One popular area in the city is The French Quarter. Often coined as The Crown Jewel of New Orleans, is a cultural hotbed in the city known for its classic buildings influenced by Spanish and French architecture. Places such as Bourbon Street in the French Quarter are studded with bars, restaurants and entertainment venues, so it’s easy to pick up some Cajun, Creole or French cuisine with a cup of alcohol in hand. The Big Easy’s resident’s motto is undeniably apt for everything that it is — laissez les bon temps rouler, a crude Cajun-French translation of Let the Good Times Roll.

The Big Easy consistently ranks high in the top cities in the United States. Its popularity among bikers is steadily growing due to the city’s flat landscape. Residents are even more encouraged to cycle with programs such as Bike Easy helping make biking more accessible to residents. The city currently has a bike score of 66.

The Cost of Building a Home in New Orleans

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The cost of living in New Orleans is notably higher compared to the state of Louisiana by around 10%, though marginally lower than the national average. It’s worth noting that New Orleans is highly affected by hurricanes, mainly due to its topography. Its proximity to large bodies of water, low elevation (that goes down by 1-2 inches yearly), and poor drainage systems make the city prone to floods. Moreover, New Orleans was left in a state of total devastation when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. Government agencies are seeking ways to remedy the city’s climate issue through land restoration programs and a vision of sustainable real estate — characterized by resilient home construction, smart zoning laws, and a lower carbon footprint.

The construction industry in New Orleans is not without its problems, mainly due to the pandemic. The halt of the United States economy has caused a shortage of laborers and a spike in the price of raw materials for construction firms nationwide. Though 2021 has seen a decrease in materials costs, the cost is still high above the national average pre-pandemic. The state of Louisiana has also seen a decline in its number of workers prior to the pandemic, making it difficult for contractors to source manpower.

Figure 1. Typical cost breakdown of a single-family home constructed using the conventional method, according to Home Builder Digest. Image Source: National Cost Guide.

Hard Costs

Materials, labor, landscaping and construction fees are all considered hard costs. They all pertain to expenses directly involved with the construction of the physical structure. These figures do not include underlying expenses such as inspection or permit fees.

New Orleanian homes run between $148 to $196 per square foot. Higher end houses can cost as much as $287 per square foot. The Louisiana average to build a custom home is around $95 to $141 per square foot—making New Orleans a more expensive option to build a home in compared to most other parts of the state. Zillow marks the average home value for a house in New Orleans at $268,947, noting that mid-tier home values have gone up by 10.3% over the past year. Carpentry framing can cost as much as $3,600 to $4,381 — including the average labor to install framing, the average cost of materials, and the overall project cost, including cleanup fees. The cost of installing a concrete foundation in New Orleans can set homeowners back $6.02 per square foot for a 4-inch reinforced concrete slab on grade (with a typical range of $5.70 to $6.34).

The installation of asphalt roof shingles can cost as much as $3.50 to $6 per square foot; roofing a 1500-square-foot home thus costs around $7,150. The average cost that homeowners pay for hardwood floors fall between $8,685 and $10,814 in Orleans Parish county. Their quotes include material costs, the average labor cost for installation and all other project costs, but do not yet include general contractor fees, which usually add another $1,169.88 to $1,462.35 to the figure above.

The installation of utilities also falls under hard costs. These include heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), plumbing and electrical wiring. HVAC costs normally run an average of $1805.18 per furnace. The average cost that homeowners pay for a plumber in New Orleans run between $87 to as much as $634, which includes labor cost and other miscellaneous project costs. However, these figures do not yet include any permit or inspection fees and taxes. If a general contractor will be used for the project, homeowners should expect to pay an additional $43.20 to $54 on top of the total cost. Electrical wiring fees fall between $88 and $713 in Orleans Parish county. This includes labor fees, materials and equipment fees, and all project costs, including cleanup fees. If a general contractor will be used, an additional $40.80 to $51 is expected as well.

Homeowners choosing to install vinyl sidings to their homes can expect to pay $3.71 per square foot for mid-range sidings. Installing a concrete patio for those interested can set one back an average of $5.54 per square foot for 4-inch reinforced concrete slabs. Applying concrete finishes can also affect the overall cost of the project, with fees dependent on the difficulty of the design and finish. Finishing can include the following: staining which can run between $3.70 to $7.70 per square foot; stamping which is $11.20 to $13.40 per square foot; smooth finishes that average at $4.50 per square foot for epoxy floor coating; or concrete sealer which cost an additional $4.50 per square foot with an $86 per hour rate for labor.

Soft Costs

All underlying costs such as city-imposed taxes, inspection fees, permits and regulations, and architecture and design fees fall under soft costs. The cost of the physical plot of land also falls under this category. Essentially, these are fees that don’t involve the construction of the physical structure of a home.

Cost of the Land

Redfin listings of land typically range between $11.06 to $53.22 per square foot, with an average cost of $24.53 per square foot. The full price of lots range between $39,300 to $159,000; averaging at $84,733 for a piece of land in New Orleans.

Permits and Other Fees

The city of New Orleans requires homeowners to apply for a new construction permit which can be done through their online portal. New construction permits face an initial cost of $60 with an additional $5 for every $1,000 of work to be performed on the project. Projects needing a plan also need to have it reviewed for $1 per $1,000 of work to be done. Properties that will be constructed within a historic district (e.g., The French Quarter) will incur a 50% surcharge on the permit fee. Electrical permits may also be applied through the city government’s website. It comes with an application fee of $40 with an additional $3 per new circuit plus $0.30 per service amperage.

Architecture and Design Fees

Architects in New Orleans normally charge their clients on a per-hour basis or based on a percentage of the construction cost. Architects opting for the latter normally charge between 9.86% to 10.36% of the total construction cost of a project. Other architects in Louisiana normally charge an hourly fee of around $45 to $80 plus materials. Interior designers, on the other hand, charge fees that range from $50 to as much as $200 per hour. The average cost homeowners normally pay for interior designing services normally falls between $761 to $11,436.

How do the custom home building costs in New Orleans compare to other nearby cities?

Homes in New Orleans typically go higher in the state of Louisiana. Neighboring cities, Chalmette and Kenner are considerably cheaper options. Chalmette homes are currently valued at $164,857, with values going up by 11.6% over the past year. Kenner, on the other hand, has homes valued at $256,751, with mid-tier home values going up by 14% over the past year. Neighboring Metairie on the other hand is considerably more expensive than New Orleans. Homes in Metairie are valued at $256,751.

What Leading Custom Home Builders and Architects that Serve New Orleans Say

Specialists at Koch and Wilson Architects generally charge a rate of 10% of the construction cost, assuming a general contractor is involved in the project. The firm also notes that costs have significantly increased due to damage left by Hurricane Ida and COVID, so it’s quite difficult to get a hold of exact costs.

Ryan McCroskey, CEO at DMG Design + Build, provided estimates for various construction projects. Value-conscious homes typically run at $200-$250 per square foot; mid range homes cost $250-$350 per square foot, and high-end custom homes go upward from $350. They also foresee that inflation and workforce issues will remain an issue for the unforeseeable future. In addition, interest rates are on the rise, but for as long as they remain favorable the firm expects the demand for luxury living to remain strong.

The Future of New Orleans’ Residential Construction Industry

There is a nationwide concern in the residential construction industry regarding the rising prices of hard costs, causing the market to be highly volatile. Raw materials in recent years suffered a spike in material costs and labor, though it has slowly been going down, though still above the average prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The city of New Orleans is constantly barraged by climate issues, particularly hurricanes and flooding. Recent years have seen the local government and private institutions strive for more sustainable housing and zoning that can help residents prevent and be protected from floods. Agencies such as the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority are pursuing projects that aid residents, particularly those belonging to low to moderate income homeowners, to install smart stormwater management interventions and improvements to counteract, prevent, or overall reduce the risk of flood.