Living Cost Compare
New York City

New York

$2,010/mo est.

vs
Shreveport

Louisiana

$1,000/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,010 in New York City, NY versus $1,000 in Shreveport, LA. Overall, Shreveport, LA is roughly 50% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New York City, NY, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $79,713 in New York City, NY and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA — about 39% higher in New York City, NY. New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

New York City, NY
Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio
$1,633
$756
+54% in New York City, NY
1 Bedroom
$1,705
$843
+51% in New York City, NY
2 Bedroom
$1,781
$978
+45% in New York City, NY
3 Bedroom
$2,065
$1,136
+45% in New York City, NY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$751,700
$178,100
+76% in New York City, NY

Income

Median Household Income
$79,713
$48,465
+39% in New York City, NY
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,430
$44,820
+27% in New York City, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.0 yr
37.5 yr
+0.5 yr in New York City, NY
Homeownership
32.8%
53.8%
+21.0 pp in Shreveport, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.0%
27.5%
+13.5 pp in New York City, NY
Avg Commute
40.6 min
19.0 min
+21.6 min in New York City, NY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
694
1,235.4
+78% in Shreveport, LA
Property Crime
2,415.4
4,048.2
+68% 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
55.0°F
65.5°F
+10.5°F in Shreveport, LA
Annual Precipitation
49.9 in
51.0 in
+1.0 in in Shreveport, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.95/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in New York City, NY

Area: New York City vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$3.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.9
14.2
+53% in New York City, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.74
$16.62
+27% in New York City, NY

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NY / LA)
4%
5%
+1.0 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
10.90%
3.00%
+7.9 pp in NY

New York City vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in New York City or Shreveport?
Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 50% below New York City, NY's $2,010, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in New York City than in Shreveport?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $68,000 a year in New York City versus $34,000 in Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, New York City or Shreveport?
New York City is taxed under New York's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% 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).