Is it cheaper to live in Naperville or Shreveport?

Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 45% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $64,000 a year in Naperville versus $34,000 in Shreveport.

Which has lower taxes, Naperville or Shreveport?

Naperville is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Shreveport under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax).

Naperville vs Shreveport Cost of Living 2026

Naperville

Illinois

$1,830/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 $1,830 in Naperville, IL versus $1,000 in Shreveport, LA. Overall, Shreveport, LA is roughly 45% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $150,937 in Naperville, IL and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA — about 68% higher in Naperville, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Naperville, IL

Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio

$1,713

$756

+56% in Naperville, IL

1 Bedroom

$1,594

$843

+47% in Naperville, IL

2 Bedroom

$1,889

$978

+48% in Naperville, IL

3 Bedroom

$2,446

$1,136

+54% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$509,900

$178,100

+65% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income

$150,937

$48,465

+68% in Naperville, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,720

$44,820

+18% in Naperville, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.1 yr

37.5 yr

+2.6 yr in Naperville, IL

Homeownership

74.3%

53.8%

+20.5 pp in Naperville, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

71.7%

27.5%

+44.2 pp in Naperville, IL

Avg Commute

31.4 min

19.0 min

+12.4 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

85.7

1,235.4

+1342% in Shreveport, LA

Property Crime

892.2

4,048.2

+354% 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

49.9°F

65.5°F

+15.6°F in Shreveport, LA

Annual Precipitation

36.9 in

51.0 in

+14.0 in in Shreveport, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.62/gal

+8% in Naperville, IL

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

23.9

14.2

+41% in Naperville, IL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.39

$16.62

+8% in Shreveport, LA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Naperville, IL

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.75

+5% in Shreveport, LA

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.21

+39% in Naperville, IL

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.45

+5% in Naperville, IL

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$1.90

+9% in Naperville, IL

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / LA)

6.25%

+1.3 pp in IL

Income Tax (top rate)

4.95%

3.00%

+2.0 pp in IL

Naperville vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Naperville or Shreveport?: Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 45% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Naperville than in Shreveport?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $64,000 a year in Naperville versus $34,000 in Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, Naperville or Shreveport?: Naperville is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% 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).