City Comparison

Cincinnati vs Shreveport

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Cincinnati

Ohio
91
Below Average
$195,000
Median Home
$1,100/mo
Median Rent
$44,003
Median Income

Shreveport

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

The Verdict

8.3%

The cost gap between these cities is 8.3%, with Shreveport being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Cincinnati has equivalent purchasing power to $69,231 in Shreveport.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
76
Cincinnati
54
Shreveport
Groceries
99
Cincinnati
98
Shreveport
Utilities
93
Cincinnati
91
Shreveport
Transportation
101
Cincinnati
96
Shreveport
Healthcare
96
Cincinnati
93
Shreveport

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Cincinnati has the same purchasing power as $69,231 in Shreveport.

Conversely, $75,000 in Shreveport equals $81,250 in Cincinnati.

Living in Cincinnati vs Shreveport

Housing Costs

Cincinnati's housing index of 76 is higher Shreveport's 54, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $170,000. The $25,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,620 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,100/mo in Cincinnati compared to $900/mo in Shreveport, a monthly difference of $200.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Cincinnati and 98 in Shreveport. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Cincinnati 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 93 in Cincinnati and 91 in Shreveport. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Cincinnati vs $364 in Shreveport. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 96 in Cincinnati 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 $44,003 in Cincinnati and $43,200 in Shreveport. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $48,355 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 $1,027/month to housing in Cincinnati vs $1,008/month in Shreveport. In Cincinnati, median rent of $1,100/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 22 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Shreveport is 8.3% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 91.
A $75,000 salary in Cincinnati has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $69,231 in Shreveport, based on the cost of living difference.
Cincinnati's housing index is 76 with median homes at $195,000, while Shreveport's is 54 with median homes at $170,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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