Living Cost Compare
Chicago

Illinois

$1,490/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 $1,490 in Chicago, IL versus $1,000 in Shreveport, LA. Overall, Shreveport, LA is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $75,134 in Chicago, IL and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA — about 35% higher in Chicago, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Chicago, IL
Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio
$1,186
$756
+36% in Chicago, IL
1 Bedroom
$1,258
$843
+33% in Chicago, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,406
$978
+30% in Chicago, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,554
$1,136
+27% in Chicago, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$315,200
$178,100
+43% in Chicago, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$75,134
$48,465
+35% in Chicago, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,720
$44,820
+18% in Chicago, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.7 yr
37.5 yr
+1.8 yr in Shreveport, LA
Homeownership
45.5%
53.8%
+8.3 pp in Shreveport, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
43.3%
27.5%
+15.8 pp in Chicago, IL
Avg Commute
33.5 min
19.0 min
+14.5 min in Chicago, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
539.8
1,235.4
+129% in Shreveport, LA
Property Crime
3,489.9
4,048.2
+16% 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
52.7°F
65.5°F
+12.8°F in Shreveport, LA
Annual Precipitation
38.0 in
51.0 in
+13.0 in in Shreveport, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.29/gal
$3.62/gal
+16% in Chicago, IL

Area: Chicago vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
23.9
14.2
+41% in Chicago, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.39
$16.62
+8% in Shreveport, LA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Chicago, IL
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Shreveport, LA
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Chicago, IL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Chicago, IL
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Chicago, IL
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / LA)
6.25%
5%
+1.3 pp in IL
Income Tax (top rate)
4.95%
3.00%
+2.0 pp in IL

Chicago vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Chicago or Shreveport?
Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Chicago, IL's $1,490, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Chicago than in Shreveport?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Chicago versus $34,000 in Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, Chicago or Shreveport?
Chicago is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% 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).