While I admit I'm not completely up on all the details of New Orleans specifically, a quick Google search suggests that rent is in line what what I would expect

While I admit I'm not completely up on all the details of New Orleans specifically, a quick Google search suggests that rent is in line what what I would expect to find around my area, where tourists have little interest in visiting (small farming town of no importance), and isn't exactly flush with cash either (median income is similar). Surprisingly, although less concerning to the poor, ownership prices don't even seem very expensive in New Orleans. If anything, less than you would find where I am. Now I'm starting to wonder where the idea that costs skyrocketed is coming from? Perhaps local prices were actually heavily depressed due to some natural/economic disasters and have finally started to return to what that income level can support through recovery from those events; AirBnB having little to do with it?