Is it cheaper to live in Jersey City or Shreveport?

Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 53% below Jersey City, NJ's $2,100, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $74,000 a year in Jersey City versus $34,000 in Shreveport.

Which has lower taxes, Jersey City or Shreveport?

Jersey City is taxed under New Jersey's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax); Shreveport under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax).

Jersey City vs Shreveport Cost of Living 2026

Jersey City

New Jersey

$2,100/mo est.

Shreveport

Louisiana

$990/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,100 in Jersey City, NJ versus $990 in Shreveport, LA. Overall, Shreveport, LA is roughly 53% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Jersey City, NJ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $94,813 in Jersey City, NJ and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA — about 49% higher in Jersey City, NJ. New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Jersey City, NJ

Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio

$1,949

$756

+61% in Jersey City, NJ

1 Bedroom

$1,853

$843

+55% in Jersey City, NJ

2 Bedroom

$1,857

$978

+47% in Jersey City, NJ

3 Bedroom

$2,004

$1,136

+43% in Jersey City, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$534,500

$178,100

+67% in Jersey City, NJ

Income

Median Household Income

$94,813

$48,465

+49% in Jersey City, NJ

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$61,430

$44,820

+27% in Jersey City, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.7 yr

37.5 yr

+2.8 yr in Shreveport, LA

Homeownership

28.8%

53.8%

+25.0 pp in Shreveport, LA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

53.1%

27.5%

+25.6 pp in Jersey City, NJ

Avg Commute

36.9 min

19.0 min

+17.9 min in Jersey City, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

562.9

1,235.4

+119% in Shreveport, LA

Property Crime

2,036.4

4,048.2

+99% 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

55.0°F

65.5°F

+10.5°F in Shreveport, LA

Annual Precipitation

49.9 in

51.0 in

+1.0 in in Shreveport, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.62/gal

+8% in Jersey City, NJ

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

24.9

13.5

+46% in Jersey City, NJ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.68

$16.62

+6% in Jersey City, NJ

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Jersey City, NJ

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.75

+9% in Jersey City, NJ

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Shreveport, LA

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.45

+6% in Jersey City, NJ

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$1.90

+13% in Jersey City, NJ

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Jersey City, NJ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NJ / LA)

6.625%

+1.6 pp in NJ

Income Tax (top rate)

10.75%

3.00%

+7.8 pp in NJ

Jersey City vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jersey City or Shreveport?: Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 53% below Jersey City, NJ's $2,100, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jersey City than in Shreveport?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $74,000 a year in Jersey City versus $34,000 in Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, Jersey City or Shreveport?: Jersey City is taxed under New Jersey's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).