A
7%
Overall NAT. AVG.
1%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
16%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Shreveport Louisiana National
Cost of living9391100
Goods & Services9996100
Groceries9995100
Health care10399100
Housing8481100
Transportation9796100
Utilities8584100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Shreveport, LA

Understanding the cost of living in Shreveport can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Shreveport cost of living index is 93, which is 7% lower than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.

Everyday expenditures like food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care in Shreveport are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Shreveport can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Shreveport?

Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 15 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Shreveport and this is how they responded. 33% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 67% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.

Is Shreveport Affordable?

Is Shreveport an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Shreveport is 17.9% lower than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 12.9% lower than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Shreveport has a median household income of $40,809, which is 26.2% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Shreveport?

Healthcare: The costs associated with healthcare and insurance premiums can exhibit notable disparities based on the city or state of residence. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for medical appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs and specialized medical care expenses all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Shreveport, healthcare costs are 3.4% higher than the national average.

Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In Shreveport, the groceries index registers 1% lower than the national average.

Taxes: Regions that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an increased cost of living. Higher taxes for everyday necessities such as clothing, utilities and food inevitably leads to higher expenditures. Additionally, a higher income tax rate can also play a role in elevating the overall cost of living. In Shreveport, the prevailing sales tax rate starts at 4.45%, and income tax rates kick off at 1.85%.

Where is the Data From?

The Shreveport cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Shreveport is 3% higher than the Louisiana average
  • The cost of living in Shreveport is 7% lower than the national average
  • Shreveport housing is 16% lower than the national average
  • Louisiana general sales tax is 13% lower than the national average
  • Louisiana state income tax is 29% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Shreveport

See all the best places to live around Shreveport

Compare Shreveport, LA Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$61,200$5,100$1,428$1,836
      Renters$25,248$2,104$589$758
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in Shreveport, LA, we can look at the percentage of income that is available to be spent on monthly housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). To stay on the safe side, a consumer should not spend more than 28% of his or her gross income on housing-related expenses and costs and not more than 36% of income on all expenses and debts. Homeowners in Shreveport have a median income of $61,200. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $1,428 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $25,248, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $589.

      Louisiana Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Louisiana 4.45% 11.45%

      Louisiana Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Louisiana 1.85% 4.25%

      Goods & Services

      Item Shreveport National avg. Difference
      Haircut $20.94$24.2613.7%
      Beauty Salon $41.39$45.569.2%
      Toothpaste $3.19$3.7013.8%
      Shampoo $1.13$1.2811.5%
      Movie $13.40$12.1310.5%
      Bowling $13.33$18.0025.9%

      Groceries

      Item Shreveport National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.18$5.845.9%
      Fried Chicken $1.67$1.576.2%
      Milk $4.53$4.673.1%
      Potatoes $5.08$4.932.9%
      Pizza $9.90$12.0918.1%
      Beer $9.71$10.416.7%

      Health Care

      Item Shreveport National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $135.11$125.687.5%
      Doctor $90.67$135.7833.2%
      Dentist $154.50$113.2936.4%
      Ibuprofen $9.57$10.6510.1%
      Lipitor $498.43$468.606.4%

      Housing

      Item Shreveport National avg. Difference
      Home Price $151,700.00$184,700.0017.9%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,083.19$2,346.6911.2%
      Apartment Rent $827.00$949.0012.9%

      Transportation

      Item Shreveport National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.10$3.4610.4%
      Tire Balancing $67.93$59.9213.4%

      Utilities

      Item Shreveport National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $164.18$193.9915.4%
      Phone $186.90$192.252.8%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Mooringsport, LA5228416.3%
      Lakeview, LA1,1969010.0%
      Benton, LA2,124918.9%
      Haughton, LA3,292946.1%
      Bossier City, LA68,286964.3%
      Shreveport, LA189,890937.1%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Mobile, AL189,994909.6%
      Cape Coral, FL189,63311211.9%
      McKinney, TX191,19712928.6%
      Frisco, TX188,38714039.8%
      Tempe, AZ191,60711211.8%
      Shreveport, LA189,890937.1%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.