Living Cost Compare
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,300/mo est.

vs
Shreveport

Louisiana

$1,000/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,300 in Baltimore, MD versus $1,000 in Shreveport, LA. Overall, Shreveport, LA is roughly 23% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Baltimore, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA — about 19% higher in Baltimore, MD. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD
Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio
$1,050
$756
+28% in Baltimore, MD
1 Bedroom
$1,073
$843
+21% in Baltimore, MD
2 Bedroom
$1,353
$978
+28% in Baltimore, MD
3 Bedroom
$1,555
$1,136
+27% in Baltimore, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$219,300
$178,100
+19% in Baltimore, MD

Income

Median Household Income
$59,623
$48,465
+19% in Baltimore, MD
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,070
$44,820
+24% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
37.5 yr
+1.4 yr in Shreveport, LA
Homeownership
47.5%
53.8%
+6.3 pp in Shreveport, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.4%
27.5%
+7.9 pp in Baltimore, MD
Avg Commute
29.4 min
19.0 min
+10.4 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,616.7
1,235.4
+24% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
4,202.6
4,048.2
+4% in Baltimore, MD

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
61.4°F
65.5°F
+4.1°F in Shreveport, LA
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
51.0 in
+8.5 in in Shreveport, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.62/gal
+6% in Baltimore, MD

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

Adult base one-way fare — MTA Maryland vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.8
14.2
+35% in Baltimore, MD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.94
$16.62
+12% in Baltimore, MD

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / LA)
6%
5%
+1.0 pp in MD
Income Tax (top rate)
6.50%
3.00%
+3.5 pp in MD

Baltimore vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Shreveport?
Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below Baltimore, MD's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Shreveport?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $34,000 in Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Shreveport?
Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% 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).