City Comparison

Alexandria vs Shreveport

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Alexandria

Virginia
145
Expensive
$590,000
Median Home
$2,125/mo
Median Rent
$119,700
Median Income

Shreveport

Louisiana
84
Very Affordable
$170,000
Median Home
$900/mo
Median Rent
$43,200
Median Income

The Verdict

72.6%

The cost gap between these cities is 72.6%, with Shreveport being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Alexandria has equivalent purchasing power to $43,448 in Shreveport.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
201
Alexandria
54
Shreveport
Groceries
113
Alexandria
98
Shreveport
Utilities
97
Alexandria
91
Shreveport
Transportation
107
Alexandria
96
Shreveport
Healthcare
102
Alexandria
93
Shreveport

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has the same purchasing power as $43,448 in Shreveport.

Conversely, $75,000 in Shreveport equals $129,464 in Alexandria.

Living in Alexandria vs Shreveport

Housing Costs

Alexandria's housing index of 201 is higher Shreveport's 54, translating to median home prices of $590,000 vs $170,000. The $420,000 difference in home prices means roughly $27,300 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,125/mo in Alexandria compared to $900/mo in Shreveport, a monthly difference of $1,225.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 113 in Alexandria and 98 in Shreveport. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $537/month in Alexandria vs $466/month in Shreveport. Shreveport offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $852/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Alexandria and 91 in Shreveport. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Alexandria vs $364 in Shreveport. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 102 in Alexandria and 93 in Shreveport. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 9-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $119,700 in Alexandria and $43,200 in Shreveport. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,552 and $51,429 respectively. Alexandria residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,793/month to housing in Alexandria vs $1,008/month in Shreveport. In Alexandria, median rent of $2,125/mo fits within this budget. In Shreveport, median rent of $900/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 147 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Shreveport is 72.6% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 145.
A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $43,448 in Shreveport, based on the cost of living difference.
Alexandria's housing index is 201 with median homes at $590,000, while Shreveport's is 54 with median homes at $170,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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