City Comparison

Lexington vs Shreveport

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Lexington

Kentucky
93
Below Average
$245,000
Median Home
$1,200/mo
Median Rent
$55,648
Median Income

Shreveport

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

The Verdict

10.7%

Shreveport is 10.7% less expensive than Lexington overall. A household earning $75,000 in Lexington would need approximately $67,742 in Shreveport to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
82
Lexington
54
Shreveport
Groceries
96
Lexington
98
Shreveport
Utilities
91
Lexington
91
Shreveport
Transportation
98
Lexington
96
Shreveport
Healthcare
94
Lexington
93
Shreveport

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Lexington has the same purchasing power as $67,742 in Shreveport.

Conversely, $75,000 in Shreveport equals $83,036 in Lexington.

Living in Lexington vs Shreveport

Housing Costs

Lexington's housing index of 82 is higher Shreveport's 54, translating to median home prices of $245,000 vs $170,000. The $75,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,872 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,200/mo in Lexington compared to $900/mo in Shreveport, a monthly difference of $300.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Lexington and 98 in Shreveport. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Lexington 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 91 in Lexington and 91 in Shreveport. Monthly utility bills average approximately $364 in Lexington vs $364 in Shreveport. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 94 in Lexington 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 $55,648 in Lexington and $43,200 in Shreveport. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $59,837 and $51,429 respectively. Lexington residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,298/month to housing in Lexington vs $1,008/month in Shreveport. In Lexington, median rent of $1,200/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 28 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Shreveport is 10.7% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 93.
A $75,000 salary in Lexington has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $67,742 in Shreveport, based on the cost of living difference.
Lexington's housing index is 82 with median homes at $245,000, while Shreveport's is 54 with median homes at $170,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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