Living Cost Compare
Phoenix

Arizona

$1,430/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 $1,430 in Phoenix, AZ versus $1,000 in Shreveport, LA. Overall, Shreveport, LA is roughly 30% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Phoenix, AZ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,041 in Phoenix, AZ and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA — about 37% higher in Phoenix, AZ. Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Phoenix, AZ
Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio
$1,127
$756
+33% in Phoenix, AZ
1 Bedroom
$1,253
$843
+33% in Phoenix, AZ
2 Bedroom
$1,493
$978
+34% in Phoenix, AZ
3 Bedroom
$1,771
$1,136
+36% in Phoenix, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$381,900
$178,100
+53% in Phoenix, AZ

Income

Median Household Income
$77,041
$48,465
+37% in Phoenix, AZ
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,380
$44,820
+13% in Phoenix, AZ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.8 yr
37.5 yr
+2.7 yr in Shreveport, LA
Homeownership
57.1%
53.8%
+3.3 pp in Phoenix, AZ
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.3%
27.5%
+4.8 pp in Phoenix, AZ
Avg Commute
25.7 min
19.0 min
+6.7 min in Phoenix, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
799.6
1,235.4
+55% in Shreveport, LA
Property Crime
2,338.9
4,048.2
+73% 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
75.1°F
65.5°F
+9.6°F in Phoenix, AZ
Annual Precipitation
8.2 in
51.0 in
+42.8 in in Shreveport, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.09/gal
$3.62/gal
+29% in Phoenix, AZ

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.2
14.2
+7% in Phoenix, AZ
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.44
$16.62
+26% in Phoenix, AZ

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Phoenix, AZ
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Phoenix, AZ
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Shreveport, LA
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Phoenix, AZ
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Phoenix, AZ
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Phoenix, AZ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AZ / LA)
5.6%
5%
+0.6 pp in AZ
Income Tax (top rate)
2.50%
3.00%
+0.5 pp in LA

Phoenix vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Phoenix or Shreveport?
Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Phoenix, AZ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Phoenix than in Shreveport?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Phoenix versus $34,000 in Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, Phoenix or Shreveport?
Phoenix is taxed under Arizona's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).