Is it cheaper to live in Lincoln or Shreveport?

Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Lincoln, NE's $1,030, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Lincoln versus $34,000 in Shreveport.

Which has lower taxes, Lincoln or Shreveport?

Lincoln is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Shreveport under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax).

Lincoln vs Shreveport Cost of Living 2026

Lincoln

Nebraska

$1,030/mo est.

Shreveport

Louisiana

$1,000/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,030 in Lincoln, NE versus $1,000 in Shreveport, LA. Overall, Shreveport, LA is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Lincoln, NE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $69,991 in Lincoln, NE and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA — about 31% higher in Lincoln, NE. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Lincoln, NE

Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio

$851

$756

+11% in Lincoln, NE

1 Bedroom

$879

$843

+4% in Lincoln, NE

2 Bedroom

$1,070

$978

+9% in Lincoln, NE

3 Bedroom

$1,379

$1,136

+18% in Lincoln, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$248,200

$178,100

+28% in Lincoln, NE

Income

Median Household Income

$69,991

$48,465

+31% in Lincoln, NE

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,800

$44,820

+10% in Lincoln, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.4 yr

37.5 yr

+4.1 yr in Shreveport, LA

Homeownership

55.8%

53.8%

+2.0 pp in Lincoln, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.0%

27.5%

+13.5 pp in Lincoln, NE

Avg Commute

18.3 min

19.0 min

+0.7 min in Shreveport, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

363.1

1,235.4

+240% in Shreveport, LA

Property Crime

2,484.4

4,048.2

+63% 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

51.5°F

65.5°F

+14.0°F in Shreveport, LA

Annual Precipitation

30.9 in

51.0 in

+20.1 in in Shreveport, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.62/gal

+8% in Lincoln, NE

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.6

14.2

+4% in Shreveport, LA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.53

$16.62

+7% in Shreveport, LA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Lincoln, NE

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.75

+5% in Shreveport, LA

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.21

+39% in Lincoln, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.45

+5% in Lincoln, NE

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$1.90

+9% in Lincoln, NE

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / LA)

5.5%

+0.5 pp in NE

Income Tax (top rate)

4.55%

3.00%

+1.5 pp in NE

Lincoln vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lincoln or Shreveport?: Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Lincoln, NE's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lincoln than in Shreveport?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Lincoln versus $34,000 in Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, Lincoln or Shreveport?: Lincoln is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% 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).