Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,010/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 $1,010 in Baton Rouge, LA versus $1,000 in Shreveport, LA. Overall, Shreveport, LA is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Baton Rouge, LA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA — about 3% higher in Baton Rouge, LA. Both cities are in Louisiana, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio
$881
$756
+14% in Baton Rouge, LA
1 Bedroom
$854
$843
+1% in Baton Rouge, LA
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$978
+9% in Baton Rouge, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$1,136
+8% in Baton Rouge, LA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$178,100
+21% in Baton Rouge, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$48,465
+3% in Baton Rouge, LA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$44,820
+8% in Baton Rouge, LA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
37.5 yr
+5.7 yr in Shreveport, LA
Homeownership
46.9%
53.8%
+6.9 pp in Shreveport, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
27.5%
+8.3 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Avg Commute
21.1 min
19.0 min
+2.1 min in Baton Rouge, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
1,235.4
+305% in Shreveport, LA
Property Crime
1,756.3
4,048.2
+130% 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
68.5°F
65.5°F
+3.0°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
51.0 in
+9.7 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.62/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
14.2
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$16.62
about equal

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 (LA / LA)
5%
5%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
3.00%
about equal

Baton Rouge vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Shreveport?
Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Baton Rouge, LA's $1,010, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Shreveport?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $34,000 in Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Shreveport?
Neither — both are in Louisiana, so they share the same state tax rates: 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).