Is it cheaper to live in Milwaukee or Shreveport?

Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Milwaukee, WI's $1,040, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Milwaukee or Shreveport?

Milwaukee is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Shreveport under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax).

Milwaukee vs Shreveport Cost of Living 2026

Milwaukee

Wisconsin

$1,040/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 $1,040 in Milwaukee, WI versus $1,000 in Shreveport, LA. Overall, Shreveport, LA is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Milwaukee, WI, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA — about 7% higher in Milwaukee, WI. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Milwaukee, WI

Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio

$841

$756

+10% in Milwaukee, WI

1 Bedroom

$849

$843

+1% in Milwaukee, WI

2 Bedroom

$1,031

$978

+5% in Milwaukee, WI

3 Bedroom

$1,193

$1,136

+5% in Milwaukee, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$172,000

$178,100

+4% in Shreveport, LA

Income

Median Household Income

$51,888

$48,465

+7% in Milwaukee, WI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,160

$44,820

+12% in Milwaukee, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

32.2 yr

37.5 yr

+5.3 yr in Shreveport, LA

Homeownership

41.5%

53.8%

+12.3 pp in Shreveport, LA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

26.6%

27.5%

+0.9 pp in Shreveport, LA

Avg Commute

22.4 min

19.0 min

+3.4 min in Milwaukee, WI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,452.3

1,235.4

+15% in Milwaukee, WI

Property Crime

2,772.2

4,048.2

+46% 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

47.9°F

65.5°F

+17.6°F in Shreveport, LA

Annual Precipitation

34.8 in

51.0 in

+16.2 in in Shreveport, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.62/gal

+8% in Milwaukee, WI

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.25

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.7

14.2

+28% in Milwaukee, WI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.79

$16.62

+41% in Shreveport, LA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Milwaukee, WI

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.75

+5% in Shreveport, LA

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.21

+39% in Milwaukee, WI

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.45

+5% in Milwaukee, WI

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$1.90

+9% in Milwaukee, WI

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WI / LA)

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

7.65%

3.00%

+4.7 pp in WI

Milwaukee vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Milwaukee or Shreveport?: Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Milwaukee, WI's $1,040, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Milwaukee than in Shreveport?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Milwaukee versus $34,000 in Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, Milwaukee or Shreveport?: Milwaukee is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 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).