Living Cost Compare
Richmond

Virginia

$1,390/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 $1,390 in Richmond, VA versus $1,000 in Shreveport, LA. Overall, Shreveport, LA is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Richmond, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,671 in Richmond, VA and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA — about 23% higher in Richmond, VA. Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Richmond, VA
Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio
$1,183
$756
+36% in Richmond, VA
1 Bedroom
$1,195
$843
+29% in Richmond, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,374
$978
+29% in Richmond, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,447
$1,136
+21% in Richmond, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$328,100
$178,100
+46% in Richmond, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$62,671
$48,465
+23% in Richmond, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,460
$44,820
+13% in Richmond, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.5 yr
37.5 yr
+3.0 yr in Shreveport, LA
Homeownership
43.5%
53.8%
+10.3 pp in Shreveport, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.1%
27.5%
+16.6 pp in Richmond, VA
Avg Commute
22.1 min
19.0 min
+3.1 min in Richmond, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
349
1,235.4
+254% in Shreveport, LA
Property Crime
3,240.2
4,048.2
+25% 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
58.9°F
65.5°F
+6.6°F in Shreveport, LA
Annual Precipitation
43.6 in
51.0 in
+7.4 in in Shreveport, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.62/gal
+6% in Richmond, VA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.6
14.2
+20% in Richmond, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.66
$16.62
+30% in Richmond, VA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (VA / LA)
5.3%
5%
+0.3 pp in VA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.75%
3.00%
+2.8 pp in VA

Richmond vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Richmond or Shreveport?
Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Richmond, VA's $1,390, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Richmond than in Shreveport?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Richmond versus $34,000 in Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, Richmond or Shreveport?
Richmond is taxed under Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).