Living Cost Compare
Columbus

Georgia

$1,080/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 $1,080 in Columbus, GA versus $1,000 in Shreveport, LA. Overall, Shreveport, LA is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbus, GA, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $56,622 in Columbus, GA and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA — about 14% higher in Columbus, GA. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Columbus, GA
Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio
$826
$756
+8% in Columbus, GA
1 Bedroom
$875
$843
+4% in Columbus, GA
2 Bedroom
$991
$978
+1% in Columbus, GA
3 Bedroom
$1,221
$1,136
+7% in Columbus, GA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$182,300
$178,100
+2% in Columbus, GA

Income

Median Household Income
$56,622
$48,465
+14% in Columbus, GA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$43,540
$44,820
+3% in Shreveport, LA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
37.5 yr
+2.4 yr in Shreveport, LA
Homeownership
50.2%
53.8%
+3.6 pp in Shreveport, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
29.7%
27.5%
+2.2 pp in Columbus, GA
Avg Commute
20.2 min
19.0 min
+1.2 min in Columbus, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
612.3
1,235.4
+102% in Shreveport, LA
Property Crime
2,273.4
4,048.2
+78% 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
65.7°F
65.5°F
+0.2°F in Columbus, GA
Annual Precipitation
46.8 in
51.0 in
+4.2 in in Shreveport, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.62/gal
+6% in Columbus, GA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.8
14.2
+11% in Columbus, GA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$33.28
$16.62
+50% in Columbus, GA

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 (GA / LA)
4%
5%
+1.0 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.19%
3.00%
+2.2 pp in GA

Columbus vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Shreveport?
Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Columbus, GA's $1,080, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbus than in Shreveport?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Columbus versus $34,000 in Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Shreveport?
Columbus is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% 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).