Living Cost Compare
Dover

Delaware

$1,270/mo est.

vs
Shreveport

Louisiana

$990/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,270 in Dover, DE versus $990 in Shreveport, LA. Overall, Shreveport, LA is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dover, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,336 in Dover, DE and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA — about 17% higher in Dover, DE. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Dover, DE
Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio
$993
$756
+24% in Dover, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,047
$843
+19% in Dover, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,185
$978
+17% in Dover, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,634
$1,136
+30% in Dover, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$248,500
$178,100
+28% in Dover, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$58,336
$48,465
+17% in Dover, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,690
$44,820
+4% in Dover, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
37.5 yr
+2.4 yr in Shreveport, LA
Homeownership
47.0%
53.8%
+6.8 pp in Shreveport, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.1%
27.5%
+0.4 pp in Shreveport, LA
Avg Commute
24.0 min
19.0 min
+5.0 min in Dover, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,025.3
1,235.4
+20% in Shreveport, LA
Property Crime
6,159.1
4,048.2
+34% in Dover, DE

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
56.9°F
65.5°F
+8.6°F in Shreveport, LA
Annual Precipitation
46.0 in
51.0 in
+4.9 in in Shreveport, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in Dover, DE

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.3
13.5
+30% in Dover, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$16.62
+44% in Dover, DE

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 (DE / LA)
None
5%
+5.0 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
3.00%
+3.6 pp in DE

Dover vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dover or Shreveport?
Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Dover, DE's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dover than in Shreveport?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Dover versus $34,000 in Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, Dover or Shreveport?
Dover is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).