New Orleans vs Shreveport
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
New Orleans
Shreveport
The Verdict
Shreveport is 15.5% less expensive than New Orleans overall. A household earning $75,000 in New Orleans would need approximately $64,948 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 New Orleans has the same purchasing power as $64,948 in Shreveport.
Conversely, $75,000 in Shreveport equals $86,607 in New Orleans.
Living in New Orleans vs Shreveport
Housing Costs
New Orleans's housing index of 95 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 New Orleans compared to $900/mo in Shreveport, a monthly difference of $300.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 99 in New Orleans and 98 in Shreveport. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in New Orleans 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 New Orleans and 91 in Shreveport. Monthly utility bills average approximately $364 in New Orleans vs $364 in Shreveport. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 94 in New Orleans 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 $43,258 in New Orleans and $43,200 in Shreveport. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $44,596 and $51,429 respectively. Shreveport residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,009/month to housing in New Orleans vs $1,008/month in Shreveport. In New Orleans, median rent of $1,200/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 41 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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