Living Cost Compare
Fayetteville

Arkansas

$990/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 $990 in Fayetteville, AR versus $990 in Shreveport, LA. The two are close overall, within a few percent of each other.

Median household income is $59,074 in Fayetteville, AR and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA — about 18% higher in Fayetteville, AR. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Fayetteville, AR
Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio
$709
$756
+7% in Shreveport, LA
1 Bedroom
$817
$843
+3% in Shreveport, LA
2 Bedroom
$999
$978
+2% in Fayetteville, AR
3 Bedroom
$1,430
$1,136
+21% in Fayetteville, AR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$322,500
$178,100
+45% in Fayetteville, AR

Income

Median Household Income
$59,074
$48,465
+18% in Fayetteville, AR
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,610
$44,820
+4% in Fayetteville, AR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.7 yr
37.5 yr
+8.8 yr in Shreveport, LA
Homeownership
41.9%
53.8%
+11.9 pp in Shreveport, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
49.8%
27.5%
+22.3 pp in Fayetteville, AR
Avg Commute
18.2 min
19.0 min
+0.8 min in Shreveport, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
429.4
1,235.4
+188% in Shreveport, LA
Property Crime
2,392.2
4,048.2
+69% 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
57.1°F
65.5°F
+8.4°F in Shreveport, LA
Annual Precipitation
48.5 in
51.0 in
+2.4 in in Shreveport, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.62/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
13.5
+4% in Fayetteville, AR
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.86
$16.62
+40% in Fayetteville, AR

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 (AR / LA)
6.5%
5%
+1.5 pp in AR
Income Tax (top rate)
3.90%
3.00%
+0.9 pp in AR

Fayetteville vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fayetteville or Shreveport?
They're close. Fayetteville, AR runs about $990 a month and Shreveport, LA about $990 (1BR rent + utilities) — within a few percent of each other.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fayetteville than in Shreveport?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Fayetteville versus $34,000 in Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, Fayetteville or Shreveport?
Fayetteville is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% 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).