Living Cost Compare
New Haven

Connecticut

$1,530/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 $1,530 in New Haven, CT versus $990 in Shreveport, LA. Overall, Shreveport, LA is roughly 35% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Haven, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,771 in New Haven, CT and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA — about 10% higher in New Haven, CT. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

New Haven, CT
Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio
$1,159
$756
+35% in New Haven, CT
1 Bedroom
$1,275
$843
+34% in New Haven, CT
2 Bedroom
$1,473
$978
+34% in New Haven, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,636
$1,136
+31% in New Haven, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$249,000
$178,100
+28% in New Haven, CT

Income

Median Household Income
$53,771
$48,465
+10% in New Haven, CT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,060
$44,820
+25% in New Haven, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.9 yr
37.5 yr
+5.6 yr in Shreveport, LA
Homeownership
28.4%
53.8%
+25.4 pp in Shreveport, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.7%
27.5%
+10.2 pp in New Haven, CT
Avg Commute
21.0 min
19.0 min
+2.0 min in New Haven, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
536.3
1,235.4
+130% in Shreveport, LA
Property Crime
3,601.6
4,048.2
+12% 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
52.2°F
65.5°F
+13.3°F in Shreveport, LA
Annual Precipitation
47.1 in
51.0 in
+3.8 in in Shreveport, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in New Haven, CT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.3
13.5
+45% in New Haven, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.33
$16.62
+29% in New Haven, CT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in New Haven, CT
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in New Haven, CT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Shreveport, LA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in New Haven, CT
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in New Haven, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in New Haven, CT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CT / LA)
6.35%
5%
+1.3 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
6.99%
3.00%
+4.0 pp in CT

New Haven vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in New Haven or Shreveport?
Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% below New Haven, CT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in New Haven than in Shreveport?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in New Haven versus $34,000 in Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, New Haven or Shreveport?
New Haven is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).