Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Shreveport?

Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Newark, NJ's $1,210, 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 $39,000 a year in Newark versus $34,000 in Shreveport.

Which has lower taxes, Newark or Shreveport?

Newark is taxed under New Jersey's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax); Shreveport under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax).

Newark vs Shreveport Cost of Living 2026

Newark

New Jersey

$1,210/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 $1,210 in Newark, NJ versus $1,000 in Shreveport, LA. Overall, Shreveport, LA is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, NJ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $48,416 in Newark, NJ and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA. New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Newark, NJ

Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio

$1,111

$756

+32% in Newark, NJ

1 Bedroom

$978

$843

+14% in Newark, NJ

2 Bedroom

$1,386

$978

+29% in Newark, NJ

3 Bedroom

$1,695

$1,136

+33% in Newark, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$337,800

$178,100

+47% in Newark, NJ

Income

Median Household Income

$48,416

$48,465

+0% in Shreveport, LA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$61,430

$44,820

+27% in Newark, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.8 yr

37.5 yr

+2.7 yr in Shreveport, LA

Homeownership

24.1%

53.8%

+29.7 pp in Shreveport, LA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

17.4%

27.5%

+10.1 pp in Shreveport, LA

Avg Commute

33.2 min

19.0 min

+14.2 min in Newark, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

582.5

1,235.4

+112% in Shreveport, LA

Property Crime

1,961.8

4,048.2

+106% 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

46.3 in

51.0 in

+4.7 in in Shreveport, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$3.62/gal

+6% in Newark, NJ

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

23.3

14.2

+39% in Newark, NJ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.93

$16.62

+4% in Shreveport, LA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Newark, NJ

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.75

+9% in Newark, NJ

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Shreveport, LA

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.45

+6% in Newark, NJ

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$1.90

+13% in Newark, NJ

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Newark, NJ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NJ / LA)

6.625%

+1.6 pp in NJ

Income Tax (top rate)

10.75%

3.00%

+7.8 pp in NJ

Newark vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Shreveport?: Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Newark, NJ's $1,210, 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 $39,000 a year in Newark versus $34,000 in Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, Newark or Shreveport?: Newark is taxed under New Jersey's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).