Birmingham vs Shreveport
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Birmingham
Shreveport
The Verdict
Living in Shreveport costs 3.6% less than Birmingham. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Birmingham, you would need $72,414 in Shreveport.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Birmingham has the same purchasing power as $72,414 in Shreveport.
Conversely, $75,000 in Shreveport equals $77,679 in Birmingham.
Living in Birmingham vs Shreveport
Housing Costs
Birmingham's housing index of 67 is higher Shreveport's 54, translating to median home prices of $165,000 vs $170,000. The $5,000 difference in home prices means roughly $324 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Birmingham compared to $900/mo in Shreveport, a monthly difference of $100.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 96 in Birmingham and 98 in Shreveport. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Birmingham 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 92 in Birmingham and 91 in Shreveport. Monthly utility bills average approximately $368 in Birmingham vs $364 in Shreveport. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 91 in Birmingham and 93 in Shreveport. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $38,178 in Birmingham and $43,200 in Shreveport. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $43,883 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 $891/month to housing in Birmingham vs $1,008/month in Shreveport. In Birmingham, median rent of $1,000/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 13 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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