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, OR'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 $58,000 a year in Portland versus $34,000 in Shreveport.

Which has lower taxes, Portland or Shreveport?

Portland is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax); Shreveport under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax).

Portland vs Shreveport Cost of Living 2026

Portland

Oregon

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

Median household income is $88,792 in Portland, OR and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA — about 45% higher in Portland, OR. Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Portland, OR

Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio

$1,294

$756

+42% in Portland, OR

1 Bedroom

$1,440

$843

+41% in Portland, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,741

$978

+44% in Portland, OR

3 Bedroom

$2,053

$1,136

+45% in Portland, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$557,600

$178,100

+68% in Portland, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$88,792

$48,465

+45% in Portland, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,690

$44,820

+26% in Portland, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.6 yr

37.5 yr

+1.1 yr in Portland, OR

Homeownership

52.8%

53.8%

+1.0 pp in Shreveport, LA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

53.5%

27.5%

+26.0 pp in Portland, OR

Avg Commute

24.6 min

19.0 min

+5.6 min in Portland, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

732.3

1,235.4

+69% in Shreveport, LA

Property Crime

5,609.4

4,048.2

+28% in Portland, OR

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

54.5°F

65.5°F

+11.0°F in Shreveport, LA

Annual Precipitation

42.9 in

51.0 in

+8.1 in in Shreveport, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.09/gal

$3.62/gal

+29% in Portland, OR

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.80

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.3

14.2

+13% in Portland, OR

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.59

$16.62

+19% in Portland, OR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Portland, OR

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Portland, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Shreveport, LA

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Portland, OR

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Portland, OR

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Portland, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OR / LA)

None

+5.0 pp in LA

Income Tax (top rate)

9.90%

3.00%

+6.9 pp in OR

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, OR'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 $58,000 a year in Portland versus $34,000 in Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, Portland or Shreveport?: Portland is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).