Is it cheaper to live in Nashua or Shreveport?

Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 40% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Nashua versus $34,000 in Shreveport.

Which has lower taxes, Nashua or Shreveport?

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

Nashua vs Shreveport Cost of Living 2026

Nashua

New Hampshire

$1,660/mo est.

Shreveport

Louisiana

$990/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,660 in Nashua, NH versus $990 in Shreveport, LA. Overall, Shreveport, LA is roughly 40% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Nashua, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $92,457 in Nashua, NH and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA — about 48% higher in Nashua, NH. New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Nashua, NH

Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio

$1,127

$756

+33% in Nashua, NH

1 Bedroom

$1,383

$843

+39% in Nashua, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,699

$978

+42% in Nashua, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,951

$1,136

+42% in Nashua, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$373,100

$178,100

+52% in Nashua, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$92,457

$48,465

+48% in Nashua, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,530

$44,820

+21% in Nashua, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

39.7 yr

37.5 yr

+2.2 yr in Nashua, NH

Homeownership

56.4%

53.8%

+2.6 pp in Nashua, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.5%

27.5%

+13.0 pp in Nashua, NH

Avg Commute

25.3 min

19.0 min

+6.3 min in Nashua, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

164.9

1,235.4

+649% in Shreveport, LA

Property Crime

1,269

4,048.2

+219% 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

49.2°F

65.5°F

+16.3°F in Shreveport, LA

Annual Precipitation

44.6 in

51.0 in

+6.4 in in Shreveport, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.62/gal

+8% in Nashua, NH

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

27.0

13.5

+50% in Nashua, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.67

$16.62

+23% in Nashua, NH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Nashua, NH

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.75

+9% in Nashua, NH

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Shreveport, LA

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.45

+6% in Nashua, NH

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$1.90

+13% in Nashua, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Nashua, NH

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NH / LA)

None

+5.0 pp in LA

Income Tax (top rate)

None

3.00%

+3.0 pp in LA

Nashua vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Nashua or Shreveport?: Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 40% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Nashua than in Shreveport?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Nashua versus $34,000 in Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, Nashua or Shreveport?: Nashua is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no 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).