Living Cost Compare
Buffalo

New York

$1,150/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 $1,150 in Buffalo, NY versus $1,000 in Shreveport, LA. Overall, Shreveport, LA is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Buffalo, NY, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $48,050 in Buffalo, NY and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA — about 1% higher in Shreveport, LA. New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Buffalo, NY
Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio
$812
$756
+7% in Buffalo, NY
1 Bedroom
$849
$843
+1% in Buffalo, NY
2 Bedroom
$954
$978
+3% in Shreveport, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,080
$1,136
+5% in Shreveport, LA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$152,300
$178,100
+17% in Shreveport, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$48,050
$48,465
+1% in Shreveport, LA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,790
$44,820
+12% in Buffalo, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.3 yr
37.5 yr
+3.2 yr in Shreveport, LA
Homeownership
42.7%
53.8%
+11.1 pp in Shreveport, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.3%
27.5%
+2.8 pp in Buffalo, NY
Avg Commute
19.9 min
19.0 min
+0.9 min in Buffalo, NY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
770.5
1,235.4
+60% in Shreveport, LA
Property Crime
4,003.2
4,048.2
+1% 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
48.3°F
65.5°F
+17.2°F in Shreveport, LA
Annual Precipitation
40.5 in
51.0 in
+10.5 in in Shreveport, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.04/gal
$3.62/gal
+10% in Buffalo, NY

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.9
14.2
+53% in Buffalo, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.74
$16.62
+27% in Buffalo, NY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Buffalo, NY
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in Buffalo, NY
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Shreveport, LA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in Buffalo, NY
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in Buffalo, NY
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Buffalo, NY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NY / LA)
4%
5%
+1.0 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
10.90%
3.00%
+7.9 pp in NY

Buffalo vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Buffalo or Shreveport?
Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Buffalo, NY's $1,150, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Buffalo than in Shreveport?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Buffalo versus $34,000 in Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, Buffalo or Shreveport?
Buffalo is taxed under New York's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% 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).