Is it cheaper to live in Salem or Shreveport?

Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Salem, OR's $1,170, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Salem than in Shreveport?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Salem versus $34,000 in Shreveport.

Which has lower taxes, Salem or Shreveport?

Salem 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).

Salem vs Shreveport Cost of Living 2026

Salem

Oregon

$1,170/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 $1,170 in Salem, OR versus $1,000 in Shreveport, LA. Overall, Shreveport, LA is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Salem, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,900 in Salem, OR and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA — about 33% higher in Salem, 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.

Salem, OR

Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio

$1,075

$756

+30% in Salem, OR

1 Bedroom

$989

$843

+15% in Salem, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,337

$978

+27% in Salem, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,778

$1,136

+36% in Salem, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$382,400

$178,100

+53% in Salem, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$71,900

$48,465

+33% in Salem, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$55,310

$44,820

+19% in Salem, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.7 yr

37.5 yr

+1.8 yr in Shreveport, LA

Homeownership

55.7%

53.8%

+1.9 pp in Salem, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

31.4%

27.5%

+3.9 pp in Salem, OR

Avg Commute

22.4 min

19.0 min

+3.4 min in Salem, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

540.6

1,235.4

+129% in Shreveport, LA

Property Crime

2,878.6

4,048.2

+41% 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

53.0°F

65.5°F

+12.5°F in Shreveport, LA

Annual Precipitation

39.7 in

51.0 in

+11.3 in in Shreveport, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.09/gal

$3.62/gal

+29% in Salem, OR

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.3

14.2

+13% in Salem, OR

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.59

$16.62

+19% in Salem, OR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Salem, OR

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Salem, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Shreveport, LA

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Salem, OR

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Salem, OR

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Salem, 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

Salem vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Salem or Shreveport?: Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Salem, OR's $1,170, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Salem than in Shreveport?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Salem versus $34,000 in Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, Salem or Shreveport?: Salem 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).