Living Cost Compare
Norman

Oklahoma

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Norman, OK versus $1,000 in Shreveport, LA. Overall, Shreveport, LA is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Norman, OK, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $65,060 in Norman, OK and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA — about 26% higher in Norman, OK. Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Norman, OK
Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio
$820
$756
+8% in Norman, OK
1 Bedroom
$863
$843
+2% in Norman, OK
2 Bedroom
$1,056
$978
+7% in Norman, OK
3 Bedroom
$1,377
$1,136
+18% in Norman, OK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$239,300
$178,100
+26% in Norman, OK

Income

Median Household Income
$65,060
$48,465
+26% in Norman, OK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,230
$44,820
+5% in Norman, OK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.6 yr
37.5 yr
+5.9 yr in Shreveport, LA
Homeownership
52.7%
53.8%
+1.1 pp in Shreveport, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.2%
27.5%
+18.7 pp in Norman, OK
Avg Commute
22.2 min
19.0 min
+3.2 min in Norman, OK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
268.6
1,235.4
+360% in Shreveport, LA
Property Crime
2,294.1
4,048.2
+76% 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
61.5°F
65.5°F
+4.0°F in Shreveport, LA
Annual Precipitation
36.5 in
51.0 in
+14.4 in in Shreveport, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in Norman, OK

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.4
14.2
+6% in Shreveport, LA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.15
$16.62
+39% in Norman, OK

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 (OK / LA)
4.5%
5%
+0.5 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
4.50%
3.00%
+1.5 pp in OK

Norman vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Norman or Shreveport?
Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Norman, OK's $1,030, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Norman than in Shreveport?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Norman versus $34,000 in Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, Norman or Shreveport?
Norman is taxed under Oklahoma's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% 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).