City Comparison

Shreveport vs St. Paul

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Shreveport

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

St. Paul

Minnesota
100
Average
$260,000
Median Home
$1,300/mo
Median Rent
$57,718
Median Income

The Verdict

16.0%

The cost gap between these cities is 16.0%, with Shreveport being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Shreveport has equivalent purchasing power to $89,286 in St. Paul.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
54
Shreveport
98
St. Paul
Groceries
98
Shreveport
103
St. Paul
Utilities
91
Shreveport
97
St. Paul
Transportation
96
Shreveport
108
St. Paul
Healthcare
93
Shreveport
105
St. Paul

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Shreveport has the same purchasing power as $89,286 in St. Paul.

Conversely, $75,000 in St. Paul equals $63,000 in Shreveport.

Living in Shreveport vs St. Paul

Housing Costs

Shreveport's housing index of 54 is lower St. Paul's 98, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $260,000. The $90,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,856 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Shreveport compared to $1,300/mo in St. Paul, a monthly difference of $400.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 98 in Shreveport and 103 in St. Paul. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Shreveport vs $489/month in St. Paul. 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 97 in St. Paul. Monthly utility bills average approximately $364 in Shreveport vs $388 in St. Paul. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 93 in Shreveport and 105 in St. Paul. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 12-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $43,200 in Shreveport and $57,718 in St. Paul. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $51,429 and $57,718 respectively. St. Paul 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 $1,347/month in St. Paul. In Shreveport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In St. Paul, median rent of $1,300/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 44 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Shreveport is 16.0% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 100.
A $75,000 salary in Shreveport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $89,286 in St. Paul, based on the cost of living difference.
Shreveport's housing index is 54 with median homes at $170,000, while St. Paul's is 98 with median homes at $260,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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