Living Cost Compare
Shreveport

Louisiana

$1,000/mo est.

vs
Sioux Falls

South Dakota

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,000 in Shreveport, LA versus $1,030 in Sioux Falls, SD. Overall, Shreveport, LA is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Sioux Falls, SD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $48,465 in Shreveport, LA and $74,714 in Sioux Falls, SD — about 35% higher in Sioux Falls, SD. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax.

Shreveport, LA
Sioux Falls, SD

Rent

Studio
$756
$825
+9% in Sioux Falls, SD
1 Bedroom
$843
$870
+3% in Sioux Falls, SD
2 Bedroom
$978
$1,000
+2% in Sioux Falls, SD
3 Bedroom
$1,136
$1,237
+9% in Sioux Falls, SD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$178,100
$271,400
+52% in Sioux Falls, SD

Income

Median Household Income
$48,465
$74,714
+54% in Sioux Falls, SD
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$44,820
$47,970
+7% in Sioux Falls, SD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.5 yr
35.1 yr
+2.4 yr in Shreveport, LA
Homeownership
53.8%
60.0%
+6.2 pp in Sioux Falls, SD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.5%
37.4%
+9.9 pp in Sioux Falls, SD
Avg Commute
19.0 min
17.0 min
+2.0 min in Shreveport, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,235.4
526.7
+57% in Shreveport, LA
Property Crime
4,048.2
2,927.1
+28% 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
65.5°F
45.8°F
+19.7°F in Shreveport, LA
Annual Precipitation
51.0 in
26.4 in
+24.6 in in Shreveport, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Sioux Falls, SD

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
15.7
+11% in Sioux Falls, SD
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$10.95
+34% in Shreveport, LA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Sioux Falls, SD
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Shreveport, LA
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Sioux Falls, SD
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Sioux Falls, SD
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Sioux Falls, SD
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / SD)
5%
4.2%
+0.8 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
None
+3.0 pp in LA

Shreveport vs Sioux Falls — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Shreveport or Sioux Falls?
Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Sioux Falls, SD's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Shreveport than in Sioux Falls?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Shreveport versus $35,000 in Sioux Falls.
Which has lower taxes, Shreveport or Sioux Falls?
Shreveport is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Sioux Falls under South Dakota's (no state income tax and a 4.2% 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).