Is it cheaper to live in Fairbanks or Shreveport?

Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Fairbanks, AK's $1,350, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Fairbanks than in Shreveport?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Fairbanks versus $34,000 in Shreveport.

Which has lower taxes, Fairbanks or Shreveport?

Fairbanks is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Shreveport under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax).

Fairbanks vs Shreveport Cost of Living 2026

Fairbanks

Alaska

$1,350/mo est.

Shreveport

Louisiana

$990/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,350 in Fairbanks, AK versus $990 in Shreveport, LA. Overall, Shreveport, LA is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fairbanks, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $72,077 in Fairbanks, AK and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA — about 33% higher in Fairbanks, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Fairbanks, AK

Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio

$883

$756

+14% in Fairbanks, AK

1 Bedroom

$1,076

$843

+22% in Fairbanks, AK

2 Bedroom

$1,428

$978

+32% in Fairbanks, AK

3 Bedroom

$2,019

$1,136

+44% in Fairbanks, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$255,700

$178,100

+30% in Fairbanks, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$72,077

$48,465

+33% in Fairbanks, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$61,810

$44,820

+27% in Fairbanks, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

37.5 yr

+8.9 yr in Shreveport, LA

Homeownership

40.5%

53.8%

+13.3 pp in Shreveport, LA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

26.5%

27.5%

+1.0 pp in Shreveport, LA

Avg Commute

14.1 min

19.0 min

+4.9 min in Shreveport, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

726.1

1,235.4

+70% in Shreveport, LA

Property Crime

3,504.2

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

27.7°F

65.5°F

+37.8°F in Shreveport, LA

Annual Precipitation

10.8 in

51.0 in

+40.1 in in Shreveport, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

$3.62/gal

+31% in Fairbanks, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.2

13.5

+52% in Fairbanks, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.35

$16.62

+4% in Fairbanks, AK

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Fairbanks, AK

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Fairbanks, AK

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Shreveport, LA

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Fairbanks, AK

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Fairbanks, AK

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Fairbanks, AK

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AK / LA)

None

+5.0 pp in LA

Income Tax (top rate)

None

3.00%

+3.0 pp in LA

Fairbanks vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fairbanks or Shreveport?: Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Fairbanks, AK's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fairbanks than in Shreveport?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Fairbanks versus $34,000 in Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, Fairbanks or Shreveport?: Fairbanks is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax 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).