Living Cost Compare
Providence

Rhode Island

$1,310/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 $1,310 in Providence, RI versus $1,000 in Shreveport, LA. Overall, Shreveport, LA is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Providence, RI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,772 in Providence, RI and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA — about 27% higher in Providence, RI. Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Providence, RI
Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio
$1,116
$756
+32% in Providence, RI
1 Bedroom
$1,030
$843
+18% in Providence, RI
2 Bedroom
$1,323
$978
+26% in Providence, RI
3 Bedroom
$1,627
$1,136
+30% in Providence, RI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$322,800
$178,100
+45% in Providence, RI

Income

Median Household Income
$66,772
$48,465
+27% in Providence, RI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$53,680
$44,820
+17% in Providence, RI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.9 yr
37.5 yr
+4.6 yr in Shreveport, LA
Homeownership
41.2%
53.8%
+12.6 pp in Shreveport, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.7%
27.5%
+7.2 pp in Providence, RI
Avg Commute
25.0 min
19.0 min
+6.0 min in Providence, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
282.4
1,235.4
+337% in Shreveport, LA
Property Crime
1,665.6
4,048.2
+143% 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
51.6°F
65.5°F
+13.9°F in Shreveport, LA
Annual Precipitation
47.2 in
51.0 in
+3.8 in in Shreveport, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.62/gal
+6% in Providence, RI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.5
14.2
+52% in Providence, RI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.06
$16.62
+3% in Shreveport, LA

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (RI / LA)
7%
5%
+2.0 pp in RI
Income Tax (top rate)
5.99%
3.00%
+3.0 pp in RI

Providence vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Providence or Shreveport?
Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Providence, RI's $1,310, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Providence than in Shreveport?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Providence versus $34,000 in Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, Providence or Shreveport?
Providence is taxed under Rhode Island's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% 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).