Living Cost Compare
Lexington

Kentucky

$1,070/mo est.

vs
Shreveport

Louisiana

$1,000/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,070 in Lexington, KY versus $1,000 in Shreveport, LA. Overall, Shreveport, LA is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Lexington, KY, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,631 in Lexington, KY and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA — about 28% higher in Lexington, KY. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Lexington, KY
Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio
$769
$756
+2% in Lexington, KY
1 Bedroom
$887
$843
+5% in Lexington, KY
2 Bedroom
$1,119
$978
+13% in Lexington, KY
3 Bedroom
$1,408
$1,136
+19% in Lexington, KY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$272,100
$178,100
+35% in Lexington, KY

Income

Median Household Income
$67,631
$48,465
+28% in Lexington, KY
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,620
$44,820
+8% in Lexington, KY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.2 yr
37.5 yr
+2.3 yr in Shreveport, LA
Homeownership
53.6%
53.8%
+0.2 pp in Shreveport, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
47.3%
27.5%
+19.8 pp in Lexington, KY
Avg Commute
20.8 min
19.0 min
+1.8 min in Lexington, KY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
269.1
1,235.4
+359% in Shreveport, LA
Property Crime
2,304.4
4,048.2
+76% 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
55.6°F
65.5°F
+9.9°F in Shreveport, LA
Annual Precipitation
45.2 in
51.0 in
+5.8 in in Shreveport, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in Lexington, KY

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.0
14.2
+6% in Lexington, KY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.48
$16.62
+44% in Lexington, KY

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 (KY / LA)
6%
5%
+1.0 pp in KY
Income Tax (top rate)
3.50%
3.00%
+0.5 pp in KY

Lexington vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lexington or Shreveport?
Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Lexington, KY's $1,070, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lexington than in Shreveport?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Lexington versus $34,000 in Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, Lexington or Shreveport?
Lexington is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% 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).