Cost of Living in Shreveport, LA
Shreveport-Bossier City, LA — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Shreveport, LA to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Shreveport, LA?
With a price level of 84.8 (U.S. average = 100), Shreveport, LA is one of the most affordable places in the country. In detail, housing costs are 48% below average; everyday goods are 6% below average; utilities are 27% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 4% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Shreveport, LA vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 84.8 | −15.2% |
| Housing | 52.3 | −47.7% |
| Goods | 93.7 | −6.3% |
| Utilities | 72.6 | −27.4% |
| Other services | 95.7 | −4.3% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Shreveport, LA
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $870 | $34,800/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $982 | $39,280/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,111 | $44,440/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,458 | $58,320/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,552 | $62,080/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Shreveport, LA
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Shreveport, LA | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $33,900 | $28,788 |
| $60,000 | $50,900 | $41,937 |
| $80,000 | $67,800 | $54,880 |
| $100,000 | $84,800 | $66,329 |
| $150,000 | $127,100 | $94,712 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Louisiana 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Shreveport, LA's median wage of $44,820 takes home about $3,103 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $982, which is 32% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,121 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Shreveport, LA
- Federal income tax$3,198
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,779
- Medicare (1.45%)$650
- Louisiana income tax$958
- Take-home pay$37,235
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Shreveport, LA
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Manager | $98,610 | $75,630 | $89,222 |
| Registered Nurse | $80,080 | $63,150 | $74,499 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver | $49,360 | $40,746 | $48,069 |
| Customer Service Representative | $36,440 | $30,753 | $36,279 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $34,970 | $29,616 | $34,938 |
| Stocker and Order Filler | $34,690 | $29,399 | $34,682 |
| Office Clerks, General | $33,990 | $28,858 | $34,044 |
| Retail Salesperson | $28,990 | $24,990 | $29,481 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $26,370 | $22,921 | $27,040 |
| Cashier | $25,760 | $22,437 | $26,469 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $22,980 | $20,231 | $23,867 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $22,460 | $19,818 | $23,380 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aide | $22,220 | $19,628 | $23,155 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $15,080 | $13,860 | $16,351 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Louisiana cities
Half of Louisiana’s 1,934,900 workers earn less than $45,520 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $30,350–$66,340 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Houma, LA stretches a paycheck furthest, while Hammond, LA is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA | $47,290 | 92.6 | $1,105 | 34% | $2,157 | $42,275 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $48,710 | 90.8 | $1,048 | 31% | $2,306 | $44,331 |
| Lafayette, LA | $41,780 | 87.2 | $847 | 29% | $2,060 | $39,999 |
| Shreveport, LA | $44,820 | 84.8 | $982 | 32% | $2,121 | $43,926 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $45,700 | 85.9 | $894 | 28% | $2,266 | $44,163 |
| Slidell, LA | $43,710 | 92.7 | $1,130 | 37% | $1,901 | $39,229 |
| Monroe, LA | $38,150 | 83.6 | $772 | 29% | $1,901 | $38,369 |
| Houma, LA | $45,610 | 85.1 | $904 | 29% | $2,250 | $44,470 |
| Alexandria, LA | $40,600 | 85.7 | $780 | 28% | $2,051 | $39,645 |
| Hammond, LA | $38,480 | 84.5 | $848 | 31% | $1,846 | $38,279 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Shreveport, LA vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shreveport, LA | 84.8 | $982 | $44,820 | 162,750 |
| Canton, OH | 89.4 | $846 | $45,810 | 163,080 |
| Beaumont, TX | 90.0 | $898 | $48,630 | 163,220 |
| Waterbury, CT | 99.8 | $1,445 | $51,440 | 160,710 |
| Spartanburg, SC | 91.1 | $1,061 | $47,650 | 165,150 |
| Youngstown, OH | 87.4 | $771 | $43,800 | 160,160 |
| Montgomery, AL | 89.7 | $870 | $44,950 | 165,550 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Shreveport, LA expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Shreveport-Bossier City, LA metro area are 84.8% of the U.S. average, with housing at 52.3%. It is the #381 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Shreveport, LA?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $50,860 in Shreveport, LA (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $44,820.
Can you afford Shreveport, LA on the median wage?
A single worker on the $44,820 median wage takes home about $3,103 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $982 would take 32% of that.
How much is rent in Shreveport, LA?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Shreveport, LA are $870 for a studio, $982 for one bedroom, $1,111 for two bedrooms and $1,458 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Shreveport, LA
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $98,610
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $80,080
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $22,220
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Food Preparation Worker — $22,980
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $22,460
- Waiter and Waitress — $15,080
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $28,990
- Cashier — $25,760
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Customer Service Representative — $36,440
- Office Clerks, General — $33,990
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $49,360
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $34,970
- Stocker and Order Filler — $34,690