Living Cost Compare
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,410/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 $1,410 in Philadelphia, PA versus $1,000 in Shreveport, LA. Overall, Shreveport, LA is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA — about 20% higher in Philadelphia, PA. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Philadelphia, PA
Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio
$1,126
$756
+33% in Philadelphia, PA
1 Bedroom
$1,189
$843
+29% in Philadelphia, PA
2 Bedroom
$1,394
$978
+30% in Philadelphia, PA
3 Bedroom
$1,406
$1,136
+19% in Philadelphia, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$232,400
$178,100
+23% in Philadelphia, PA

Income

Median Household Income
$60,698
$48,465
+20% in Philadelphia, PA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,310
$44,820
+17% in Philadelphia, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
37.5 yr
+2.4 yr in Shreveport, LA
Homeownership
52.3%
53.8%
+1.5 pp in Shreveport, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.6%
27.5%
+7.1 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Avg Commute
32.0 min
19.0 min
+13.0 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
917.1
1,235.4
+35% in Shreveport, LA
Property Crime
4,615.3
4,048.2
+12% in Philadelphia, PA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
57.1°F
65.5°F
+8.4°F in Shreveport, LA
Annual Precipitation
48.5 in
51.0 in
+2.4 in in Shreveport, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.62/gal
+6% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.6
14.2
+34% in Philadelphia, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.17
$16.62
+13% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (PA / LA)
6%
5%
+1.0 pp in PA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.07%
3.00%
+0.1 pp in PA

Philadelphia vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Philadelphia or Shreveport?
Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Philadelphia than in Shreveport?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Philadelphia versus $34,000 in Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, Philadelphia or Shreveport?
Philadelphia is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% 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).