City Comparison

Shreveport vs Virginia Beach

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Shreveport

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

Virginia Beach

Virginia
105
Average
$310,000
Median Home
$1,500/mo
Median Rent
$73,418
Median Income

The Verdict

20.0%

The cost gap between these cities is 20.0%, with Shreveport being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Shreveport has equivalent purchasing power to $93,750 in Virginia Beach.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
54
Shreveport
112
Virginia Beach
Groceries
98
Shreveport
100
Virginia Beach
Utilities
91
Shreveport
98
Virginia Beach
Transportation
96
Shreveport
101
Virginia Beach
Healthcare
93
Shreveport
99
Virginia Beach

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Shreveport has the same purchasing power as $93,750 in Virginia Beach.

Conversely, $75,000 in Virginia Beach equals $60,000 in Shreveport.

Living in Shreveport vs Virginia Beach

Housing Costs

Shreveport's housing index of 54 is lower Virginia Beach's 112, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $310,000. The $140,000 difference in home prices means roughly $9,096 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Shreveport compared to $1,500/mo in Virginia Beach, a monthly difference of $600.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 98 in Shreveport and 100 in Virginia Beach. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Shreveport vs $475/month in Virginia Beach. 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 98 in Virginia Beach. Monthly utility bills average approximately $364 in Shreveport vs $392 in Virginia Beach. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 93 in Shreveport and 99 in Virginia Beach. 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 $73,418 in Virginia Beach. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $51,429 and $69,922 respectively. Virginia Beach 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 $1,713/month in Virginia Beach. In Shreveport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Virginia Beach, median rent of $1,500/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 58 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Shreveport is 20.0% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 105.
A $75,000 salary in Shreveport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $93,750 in Virginia Beach, based on the cost of living difference.
Shreveport's housing index is 54 with median homes at $170,000, while Virginia Beach's is 112 with median homes at $310,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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