City Comparison

Ithaca vs Shreveport

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Ithaca

New York
94
Below Average
$324,000
Median Home
$1,475/mo
Median Rent
$48,600
Median Income

Shreveport

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

The Verdict

11.9%

Living in Shreveport costs 11.9% less than Ithaca. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Ithaca, you would need $67,021 in Shreveport.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
117
Ithaca
54
Shreveport
Groceries
103
Ithaca
98
Shreveport
Utilities
102
Ithaca
91
Shreveport
Transportation
96
Ithaca
96
Shreveport
Healthcare
99
Ithaca
93
Shreveport

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Ithaca has the same purchasing power as $67,021 in Shreveport.

Conversely, $75,000 in Shreveport equals $83,929 in Ithaca.

Living in Ithaca vs Shreveport

Housing Costs

Ithaca's housing index of 117 is higher Shreveport's 54, translating to median home prices of $324,000 vs $170,000. The $154,000 difference in home prices means roughly $10,008 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,475/mo in Ithaca compared to $900/mo in Shreveport, a monthly difference of $575.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 103 in Ithaca and 98 in Shreveport. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Ithaca 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 102 in Ithaca and 91 in Shreveport. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Ithaca 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 99 in Ithaca 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 $48,600 in Ithaca and $43,200 in Shreveport. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $51,702 and $51,429 respectively. Ithaca residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,134/month to housing in Ithaca vs $1,008/month in Shreveport. In Ithaca, median rent of $1,475/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 63 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Shreveport is 11.9% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 94.
A $75,000 salary in Ithaca has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $67,021 in Shreveport, based on the cost of living difference.
Ithaca's housing index is 117 with median homes at $324,000, while Shreveport's is 54 with median homes at $170,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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