City Comparison

El Paso vs Shreveport

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

El Paso

Texas
85
Very Affordable
$185,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$47,568
Median Income

Shreveport

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

The Verdict

1.2%

The cost gap between these cities is 1.2%, with Shreveport being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in El Paso has equivalent purchasing power to $74,118 in Shreveport.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
69
El Paso
54
Shreveport
Groceries
95
El Paso
98
Shreveport
Utilities
93
El Paso
91
Shreveport
Transportation
98
El Paso
96
Shreveport
Healthcare
89
El Paso
93
Shreveport

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in El Paso has the same purchasing power as $74,118 in Shreveport.

Conversely, $75,000 in Shreveport equals $75,893 in El Paso.

Living in El Paso vs Shreveport

Housing Costs

El Paso's housing index of 69 is higher Shreveport's 54, translating to median home prices of $185,000 vs $170,000. The $15,000 difference in home prices means roughly $972 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in El Paso compared to $900/mo in Shreveport, a monthly difference of $100.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in El Paso and 98 in Shreveport. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in El Paso 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 El Paso and 91 in Shreveport. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in El Paso vs $364 in Shreveport. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 89 in El Paso 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 $47,568 in El Paso and $43,200 in Shreveport. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $55,962 and $51,429 respectively. El Paso residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,110/month to housing in El Paso vs $1,008/month in Shreveport. In El Paso, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Shreveport, median rent of $900/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 15 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Shreveport is 1.2% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 85.
A $75,000 salary in El Paso has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $74,118 in Shreveport, based on the cost of living difference.
El Paso's housing index is 69 with median homes at $185,000, while Shreveport's is 54 with median homes at $170,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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