Living Cost Compare
Portland

Maine

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Portland, ME versus $1,000 in Shreveport, LA. Overall, Shreveport, LA is roughly 38% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, ME, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $76,174 in Portland, ME and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA — about 36% higher in Portland, ME. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Portland, ME
Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio
$1,038
$756
+27% in Portland, ME
1 Bedroom
$1,331
$843
+37% in Portland, ME
2 Bedroom
$1,664
$978
+41% in Portland, ME
3 Bedroom
$1,919
$1,136
+41% in Portland, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$452,600
$178,100
+61% in Portland, ME

Income

Median Household Income
$76,174
$48,465
+36% in Portland, ME
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$56,960
$44,820
+21% in Portland, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.5 yr
37.5 yr
about equal
Homeownership
46.7%
53.8%
+7.1 pp in Shreveport, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
59.2%
27.5%
+31.7 pp in Portland, ME
Avg Commute
19.9 min
19.0 min
+0.9 min in Portland, ME

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
272.7
1,235.4
+353% in Shreveport, LA
Property Crime
2,513.3
4,048.2
+61% 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
46.5°F
65.5°F
+19.0°F in Shreveport, LA
Annual Precipitation
47.3 in
51.0 in
+3.7 in in Shreveport, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.62/gal
+6% in Portland, ME

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
28.6
14.2
+51% in Portland, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$21.00
$16.62
+21% in Portland, ME

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ME / LA)
5.5%
5%
+0.5 pp in ME
Income Tax (top rate)
7.15%
3.00%
+4.2 pp in ME

Portland vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Portland or Shreveport?
Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Portland, ME's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Portland than in Shreveport?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Portland versus $34,000 in Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, Portland or Shreveport?
Portland is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% 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).