Living Cost Compare
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Newark, DE versus $990 in Shreveport, LA. Overall, Shreveport, LA is roughly 39% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,373 in Newark, DE and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA — about 32% higher in Newark, DE. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Newark, DE
Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio
$1,649
$756
+54% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,391
$843
+39% in Newark, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,513
$978
+35% in Newark, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,916
$1,136
+41% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$357,600
$178,100
+50% in Newark, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$71,373
$48,465
+32% in Newark, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,310
$44,820
+17% in Newark, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
22.0 yr
37.5 yr
+15.5 yr in Shreveport, LA
Homeownership
50.3%
53.8%
+3.5 pp in Shreveport, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.5%
27.5%
+30.0 pp in Newark, DE
Avg Commute
19.6 min
19.0 min
+0.6 min in Newark, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
326.3
1,235.4
+279% in Shreveport, LA
Property Crime
2,024.6
4,048.2
+100% 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
54.9°F
65.5°F
+10.6°F in Shreveport, LA
Annual Precipitation
43.1 in
51.0 in
+7.9 in in Shreveport, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in Newark, DE

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.3
13.5
+30% in Newark, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$16.62
+44% in Newark, DE

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 (DE / LA)
None
5%
+5.0 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
3.00%
+3.6 pp in DE

Newark vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Shreveport?
Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 39% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Newark than in Shreveport?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Newark versus $34,000 in Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, Newark or Shreveport?
Newark is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% 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).