City Comparison

Asheville vs Shreveport

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Asheville

North Carolina
108
Above Average
$360,000
Median Home
$1,500/mo
Median Rent
$48,534
Median Income

Shreveport

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

The Verdict

28.6%

Shreveport is 28.6% less expensive than Asheville overall. A household earning $75,000 in Asheville would need approximately $58,333 in Shreveport to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
120
Asheville
54
Shreveport
Groceries
103
Asheville
98
Shreveport
Utilities
95
Asheville
91
Shreveport
Transportation
100
Asheville
96
Shreveport
Healthcare
106
Asheville
93
Shreveport

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Asheville has the same purchasing power as $58,333 in Shreveport.

Conversely, $75,000 in Shreveport equals $96,429 in Asheville.

Living in Asheville vs Shreveport

Housing Costs

Asheville's housing index of 120 is higher Shreveport's 54, translating to median home prices of $360,000 vs $170,000. The $190,000 difference in home prices means roughly $12,348 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,500/mo in Asheville compared to $900/mo in Shreveport, a monthly difference of $600.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 103 in Asheville and 98 in Shreveport. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Asheville vs $466/month in Shreveport. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 95 in Asheville and 91 in Shreveport. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Asheville vs $364 in Shreveport. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 106 in Asheville and 93 in Shreveport. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 13-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $48,534 in Asheville and $43,200 in Shreveport. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $44,939 and $51,429 respectively. Shreveport residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,132/month to housing in Asheville vs $1,008/month in Shreveport. In Asheville, median rent of $1,500/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Shreveport, median rent of $900/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 66 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Shreveport is 28.6% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 108.
A $75,000 salary in Asheville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $58,333 in Shreveport, based on the cost of living difference.
Asheville's housing index is 120 with median homes at $360,000, while Shreveport's is 54 with median homes at $170,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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