Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Shreveport?

Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Anchorage, AK's $1,320, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Anchorage than in Shreveport?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $34,000 in Shreveport.

Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or Shreveport?

Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Shreveport under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax).

Anchorage vs Shreveport Cost of Living 2026

Anchorage

Alaska

$1,320/mo est.

Shreveport

Louisiana

$1,000/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,320 in Anchorage, AK versus $1,000 in Shreveport, LA. Overall, Shreveport, LA is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Anchorage, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $98,152 in Anchorage, AK and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA — about 51% higher in Anchorage, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Anchorage, AK

Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio

$1,001

$756

+24% in Anchorage, AK

1 Bedroom

$1,052

$843

+20% in Anchorage, AK

2 Bedroom

$1,433

$978

+32% in Anchorage, AK

3 Bedroom

$1,952

$1,136

+42% in Anchorage, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$375,900

$178,100

+53% in Anchorage, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$98,152

$48,465

+51% in Anchorage, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,200

$44,820

+26% in Anchorage, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.9 yr

37.5 yr

+2.6 yr in Shreveport, LA

Homeownership

63.7%

53.8%

+9.9 pp in Anchorage, AK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.7%

27.5%

+10.2 pp in Anchorage, AK

Avg Commute

19.0 min

about equal

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,016.5

1,235.4

+22% in Shreveport, LA

Property Crime

2,796.2

4,048.2

+45% in Shreveport, LA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

37.4°F

65.5°F

+28.1°F in Shreveport, LA

Annual Precipitation

17.9 in

51.0 in

+33.0 in in Shreveport, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.09/gal

$3.62/gal

+29% in Anchorage, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.2

14.2

+50% in Anchorage, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$14.40

$16.62

+15% in Shreveport, LA

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Anchorage, AK

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Anchorage, AK

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Shreveport, LA

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Anchorage, AK

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Anchorage, AK

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Anchorage, AK

Average prices — West vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AK / LA)

None

+5.0 pp in LA

Income Tax (top rate)

None

3.00%

+3.0 pp in LA

Anchorage vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Shreveport?: Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Anchorage, AK's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anchorage than in Shreveport?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $34,000 in Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or Shreveport?: Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Shreveport under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).