City Comparison

Johnson City vs Shreveport

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Johnson City

Tennessee
85
Very Affordable
$276,000
Median Home
$1,025/mo
Median Rent
$55,400
Median Income

Shreveport

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

The Verdict

1.2%

Shreveport is 1.2% less expensive than Johnson City overall. A household earning $75,000 in Johnson City would need approximately $74,118 in Shreveport to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
66
Johnson City
54
Shreveport
Groceries
95
Johnson City
98
Shreveport
Utilities
95
Johnson City
91
Shreveport
Transportation
88
Johnson City
96
Shreveport
Healthcare
94
Johnson City
93
Shreveport

Salary Equivalence

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

Conversely, $75,000 in Shreveport equals $75,893 in Johnson City.

Living in Johnson City vs Shreveport

Housing Costs

Johnson City's housing index of 66 is higher Shreveport's 54, translating to median home prices of $276,000 vs $170,000. The $106,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,888 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,025/mo in Johnson City compared to $900/mo in Shreveport, a monthly difference of $125.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Johnson City and 98 in Shreveport. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Johnson City 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 95 in Johnson City and 91 in Shreveport. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Johnson City vs $364 in Shreveport. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 94 in Johnson City 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 $55,400 in Johnson City and $43,200 in Shreveport. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $65,176 and $51,429 respectively. Johnson City residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,293/month to housing in Johnson City vs $1,008/month in Shreveport. In Johnson City, median rent of $1,025/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 12 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 Johnson City has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $74,118 in Shreveport, based on the cost of living difference.
Johnson City's housing index is 66 with median homes at $276,000, while Shreveport's is 54 with median homes at $170,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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