Living Cost Compare
Montgomery

Alabama

$1,020/mo est.

vs
Shreveport

Louisiana

$990/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,020 in Montgomery, AL versus $990 in Shreveport, LA. Overall, Shreveport, LA is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Montgomery, AL, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $55,687 in Montgomery, AL and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA — about 13% higher in Montgomery, AL. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Montgomery, AL
Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio
$864
$756
+13% in Montgomery, AL
1 Bedroom
$831
$843
+1% in Shreveport, LA
2 Bedroom
$982
$978
+0% in Montgomery, AL
3 Bedroom
$1,172
$1,136
+3% in Montgomery, AL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$148,500
$178,100
+20% in Shreveport, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$55,687
$48,465
+13% in Montgomery, AL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$44,950
$44,820
+0% in Montgomery, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.2 yr
37.5 yr
+1.3 yr in Shreveport, LA
Homeownership
54.3%
53.8%
+0.5 pp in Montgomery, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.5%
27.5%
+6.0 pp in Montgomery, AL
Avg Commute
20.5 min
19.0 min
+1.5 min in Montgomery, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
605.5
1,235.4
+104% in Shreveport, LA
Property Crime
2,258.3
4,048.2
+79% 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
65.1°F
65.5°F
+0.4°F in Shreveport, LA
Annual Precipitation
53.1 in
51.0 in
+2.1 in in Montgomery, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.62/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
13.5
+18% in Montgomery, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.06
$16.62
+31% in Montgomery, AL

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 (AL / LA)
4%
5%
+1.0 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
3.00%
+2.0 pp in AL

Montgomery vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Montgomery or Shreveport?
Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Montgomery, AL's $1,020, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Montgomery than in Shreveport?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Montgomery versus $34,000 in Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, Montgomery or Shreveport?
Montgomery is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).