Living Cost Compare
Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/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 $1,190 in Birmingham, AL versus $1,000 in Shreveport, LA. Overall, Shreveport, LA is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Birmingham, AL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,376 in Birmingham, AL and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA — about 8% higher in Shreveport, LA. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Birmingham, AL
Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio
$857
$756
+12% in Birmingham, AL
1 Bedroom
$1,004
$843
+16% in Birmingham, AL
2 Bedroom
$1,005
$978
+3% in Birmingham, AL
3 Bedroom
$1,188
$1,136
+4% in Birmingham, AL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$138,600
$178,100
+28% in Shreveport, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$44,376
$48,465
+9% in Shreveport, LA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,770
$44,820
+6% in Birmingham, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
37.5 yr
+1.6 yr in Shreveport, LA
Homeownership
45.1%
53.8%
+8.7 pp in Shreveport, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.7%
27.5%
+3.2 pp in Birmingham, AL
Avg Commute
21.5 min
19.0 min
+2.5 min in Birmingham, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,274.7
1,235.4
+3% in Birmingham, AL
Property Crime
4,233
4,048.2
+4% in Birmingham, AL

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
63.3°F
65.5°F
+2.2°F in Shreveport, LA
Annual Precipitation
53.7 in
51.0 in
+2.8 in in Birmingham, AL

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
14.2
+16% in Birmingham, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.64
$16.62
+27% in Birmingham, AL

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 (AL / LA)
4%
5%
+1.0 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
3.00%
+2.0 pp in AL

Birmingham vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Shreveport?
Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Birmingham, AL's $1,190, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Birmingham than in Shreveport?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $34,000 in Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Shreveport?
Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).