Living Cost Compare
Little Rock

Arkansas

$1,080/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 $1,080 in Little Rock, AR versus $1,000 in Shreveport, LA. Overall, Shreveport, LA is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Little Rock, AR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,583 in Little Rock, AR and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA — about 20% higher in Little Rock, 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.

Little Rock, AR
Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio
$981
$756
+23% in Little Rock, AR
1 Bedroom
$904
$843
+7% in Little Rock, AR
2 Bedroom
$1,064
$978
+8% in Little Rock, AR
3 Bedroom
$1,292
$1,136
+12% in Little Rock, AR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$221,200
$178,100
+19% in Little Rock, AR

Income

Median Household Income
$60,583
$48,465
+20% in Little Rock, AR
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,790
$44,820
+2% in Little Rock, AR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
37.5 yr
+1.1 yr in Shreveport, LA
Homeownership
54.2%
53.8%
+0.4 pp in Little Rock, AR
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.0%
27.5%
+16.5 pp in Little Rock, AR
Avg Commute
18.3 min
19.0 min
+0.7 min in Shreveport, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,673
1,235.4
+26% in Little Rock, AR
Property Crime
5,251.5
4,048.2
+23% in Little Rock, AR

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
62.7°F
65.5°F
+2.8°F in Shreveport, LA
Annual Precipitation
49.8 in
51.0 in
+1.2 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)
14.4
14.2
+1% in Little Rock, AR
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$25.93
$16.62
+36% in Little Rock, 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

Little Rock vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Little Rock or Shreveport?
Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Little Rock, AR's $1,080, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Little Rock than in Shreveport?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Little Rock versus $34,000 in Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, Little Rock or Shreveport?
Little Rock 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).