Living Cost Compare
Hartford

Connecticut

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Hartford, CT versus $990 in Shreveport, LA. Overall, Shreveport, LA is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Hartford, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $45,300 in Hartford, CT and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA — about 7% higher in Shreveport, LA. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Hartford, CT
Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio
$973
$756
+22% in Hartford, CT
1 Bedroom
$1,042
$843
+19% in Hartford, CT
2 Bedroom
$1,296
$978
+25% in Hartford, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,433
$1,136
+21% in Hartford, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$217,200
$178,100
+18% in Hartford, CT

Income

Median Household Income
$45,300
$48,465
+7% in Shreveport, LA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,940
$44,820
+25% in Hartford, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.4 yr
37.5 yr
+4.1 yr in Shreveport, LA
Homeownership
25.7%
53.8%
+28.1 pp in Shreveport, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
18.3%
27.5%
+9.2 pp in Shreveport, LA
Avg Commute
22.8 min
19.0 min
+3.8 min in Hartford, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
527.5
1,235.4
+134% in Shreveport, LA
Property Crime
2,949.2
4,048.2
+37% 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
51.2°F
65.5°F
+14.3°F in Shreveport, LA
Annual Precipitation
43.6 in
51.0 in
+7.4 in in Shreveport, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in Hartford, CT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.3
13.5
+45% in Hartford, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.33
$16.62
+29% in Hartford, CT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Hartford, CT
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in Hartford, CT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Shreveport, LA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in Hartford, CT
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in Hartford, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Hartford, CT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CT / LA)
6.35%
5%
+1.3 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
6.99%
3.00%
+4.0 pp in CT

Hartford vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hartford or Shreveport?
Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Hartford, CT's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hartford than in Shreveport?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Hartford versus $34,000 in Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, Hartford or Shreveport?
Hartford is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).