City Comparison

Shreveport vs Sioux Falls

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Shreveport

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

Sioux Falls

South Dakota
93
Below Average
$265,000
Median Home
$1,100/mo
Median Rent
$61,714
Median Income

The Verdict

9.7%

The cost gap between these cities is 9.7%, with Shreveport being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Shreveport has equivalent purchasing power to $83,036 in Sioux Falls.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
54
Shreveport
80
Sioux Falls
Groceries
98
Shreveport
97
Sioux Falls
Utilities
91
Shreveport
94
Sioux Falls
Transportation
96
Shreveport
98
Sioux Falls
Healthcare
93
Shreveport
101
Sioux Falls

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Shreveport has the same purchasing power as $83,036 in Sioux Falls.

Conversely, $75,000 in Sioux Falls equals $67,742 in Shreveport.

Living in Shreveport vs Sioux Falls

Housing Costs

Shreveport's housing index of 54 is lower Sioux Falls's 80, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $265,000. The $95,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,180 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Shreveport compared to $1,100/mo in Sioux Falls, a monthly difference of $200.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 98 in Shreveport and 97 in Sioux Falls. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Shreveport vs $461/month in Sioux Falls. 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 Shreveport and 94 in Sioux Falls. Monthly utility bills average approximately $364 in Shreveport vs $376 in Sioux Falls. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 93 in Shreveport and 101 in Sioux Falls. 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 $43,200 in Shreveport and $61,714 in Sioux Falls. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $51,429 and $66,359 respectively. Sioux Falls residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,008/month to housing in Shreveport vs $1,440/month in Sioux Falls. In Shreveport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Sioux Falls, median rent of $1,100/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 26 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Shreveport is 9.7% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 93.
A $75,000 salary in Shreveport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $83,036 in Sioux Falls, based on the cost of living difference.
Shreveport's housing index is 54 with median homes at $170,000, while Sioux Falls's is 80 with median homes at $265,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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