Is it cheaper to live in Memphis or Shreveport?

Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Memphis, TN's $1,110, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Memphis versus $34,000 in Shreveport.

Which has lower taxes, Memphis or Shreveport?

Memphis is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax); Shreveport under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax).

Memphis vs Shreveport Cost of Living 2026

Memphis

Tennessee

$1,110/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 $1,110 in Memphis, TN versus $1,000 in Shreveport, LA. Overall, Shreveport, LA is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Memphis, TN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,211 in Memphis, TN and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA — about 5% higher in Memphis, TN. Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Memphis, TN

Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio

$877

$756

+14% in Memphis, TN

1 Bedroom

$948

$843

+11% in Memphis, TN

2 Bedroom

$1,073

$978

+9% in Memphis, TN

3 Bedroom

$1,281

$1,136

+11% in Memphis, TN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$157,100

$178,100

+13% in Shreveport, LA

Income

Median Household Income

$51,211

$48,465

+5% in Memphis, TN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,890

$44,820

+4% in Memphis, TN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.3 yr

37.5 yr

+3.2 yr in Shreveport, LA

Homeownership

46.0%

53.8%

+7.8 pp in Shreveport, LA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.2%

27.5%

+0.7 pp in Memphis, TN

Avg Commute

21.3 min

19.0 min

+2.3 min in Memphis, TN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

2,507.6

1,235.4

+51% in Memphis, TN

Property Crime

6,966.3

4,048.2

+42% in Memphis, TN

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

63.1°F

65.5°F

+2.4°F in Shreveport, LA

Annual Precipitation

53.7 in

51.0 in

+2.7 in in Memphis, TN

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.62/gal

+8% in Memphis, TN

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.75

—

Adult base one-way fare — MATA vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.5

14.2

+2% in Memphis, TN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$16.83

$16.62

+1% in Memphis, TN

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.75

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TN / LA)

+2.0 pp in TN

Income Tax (top rate)

None

3.00%

+3.0 pp in LA

Memphis vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Memphis or Shreveport?: Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Memphis, TN's $1,110, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Memphis than in Shreveport?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Memphis versus $34,000 in Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, Memphis or Shreveport?: Memphis is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax and a 7% 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).