Durham vs Shreveport
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Durham
Shreveport
The Verdict
Shreveport is 20.2% less expensive than Durham overall. A household earning $75,000 in Durham would need approximately $62,376 in Shreveport to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Durham has the same purchasing power as $62,376 in Shreveport.
Conversely, $75,000 in Shreveport equals $90,179 in Durham.
Living in Durham vs Shreveport
Housing Costs
Durham's housing index of 104 is higher Shreveport's 54, translating to median home prices of $340,000 vs $170,000. The $170,000 difference in home prices means roughly $11,052 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Durham compared to $900/mo in Shreveport, a monthly difference of $500.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 100 in Durham and 98 in Shreveport. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Durham 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 Durham and 91 in Shreveport. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Durham vs $364 in Shreveport. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 108 in Durham and 93 in Shreveport. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 15-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $57,738 in Durham and $43,200 in Shreveport. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,166 and $51,429 respectively. Durham residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,347/month to housing in Durham vs $1,008/month in Shreveport. In Durham, median rent of $1,400/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 50 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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