City Comparison

Cambridge vs Shreveport

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Cambridge

Massachusetts
178
Very Expensive
$890,000
Median Home
$3,100/mo
Median Rent
$103,154
Median Income

Shreveport

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

The Verdict

111.9%

Shreveport is 111.9% less expensive than Cambridge overall. A household earning $75,000 in Cambridge would need approximately $35,393 in Shreveport to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
280
Cambridge
54
Shreveport
Groceries
110
Cambridge
98
Shreveport
Utilities
126
Cambridge
91
Shreveport
Transportation
105
Cambridge
96
Shreveport
Healthcare
118
Cambridge
93
Shreveport

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Cambridge has the same purchasing power as $35,393 in Shreveport.

Conversely, $75,000 in Shreveport equals $158,929 in Cambridge.

Living in Cambridge vs Shreveport

Housing Costs

Cambridge's housing index of 280 is higher Shreveport's 54, translating to median home prices of $890,000 vs $170,000. The $720,000 difference in home prices means roughly $46,800 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $3,100/mo in Cambridge compared to $900/mo in Shreveport, a monthly difference of $2,200.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 110 in Cambridge and 98 in Shreveport. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $523/month in Cambridge vs $466/month in Shreveport. Shreveport offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $684/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 126 in Cambridge and 91 in Shreveport. Monthly utility bills average approximately $504 in Cambridge vs $364 in Shreveport. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 118 in Cambridge and 93 in Shreveport. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 25-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $103,154 in Cambridge and $43,200 in Shreveport. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,952 and $51,429 respectively. Cambridge residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,407/month to housing in Cambridge vs $1,008/month in Shreveport. In Cambridge, median rent of $3,100/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 226 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Shreveport is 111.9% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 178.
A $75,000 salary in Cambridge has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $35,393 in Shreveport, based on the cost of living difference.
Cambridge's housing index is 280 with median homes at $890,000, while Shreveport's is 54 with median homes at $170,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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