City Comparison

Santa Rosa vs Shreveport

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Santa Rosa

California
152
Very Expensive
$720,000
Median Home
$2,100/mo
Median Rent
$94,300
Median Income

Shreveport

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

The Verdict

81.0%

Living in Shreveport costs 81.0% less than Santa Rosa. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Santa Rosa, you would need $41,447 in Shreveport.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
233
Santa Rosa
54
Shreveport
Groceries
107
Santa Rosa
98
Shreveport
Utilities
135
Santa Rosa
91
Shreveport
Transportation
128
Santa Rosa
96
Shreveport
Healthcare
112
Santa Rosa
93
Shreveport

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Santa Rosa has the same purchasing power as $41,447 in Shreveport.

Conversely, $75,000 in Shreveport equals $135,714 in Santa Rosa.

Living in Santa Rosa vs Shreveport

Housing Costs

Santa Rosa's housing index of 233 is higher Shreveport's 54, translating to median home prices of $720,000 vs $170,000. The $550,000 difference in home prices means roughly $35,748 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,100/mo in Santa Rosa compared to $900/mo in Shreveport, a monthly difference of $1,200.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 107 in Santa Rosa and 98 in Shreveport. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $508/month in Santa Rosa vs $466/month in Shreveport. Shreveport offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $504/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 135 in Santa Rosa and 91 in Shreveport. Monthly utility bills average approximately $540 in Santa Rosa 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 112 in Santa Rosa and 93 in Shreveport. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 19-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $94,300 in Santa Rosa and $43,200 in Shreveport. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $62,039 and $51,429 respectively. Santa Rosa residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,200/month to housing in Santa Rosa vs $1,008/month in Shreveport. In Santa Rosa, median rent of $2,100/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 179 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Shreveport is 81.0% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 152.
A $75,000 salary in Santa Rosa has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $41,447 in Shreveport, based on the cost of living difference.
Santa Rosa's housing index is 233 with median homes at $720,000, while Shreveport's is 54 with median homes at $170,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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