Living Cost Compare
Shreveport

Louisiana

$1,000/mo est.

vs
Virginia Beach

Virginia

$1,550/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 $1,550 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Shreveport, LA is roughly 35% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $48,465 in Shreveport, LA and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 47% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Shreveport, LA
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$756
$1,496
+98% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$843
$1,357
+61% in Virginia Beach, VA
2 Bedroom
$978
$1,559
+59% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,136
$1,857
+63% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$178,100
$366,300
+106% in Virginia Beach, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$48,465
$90,685
+87% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$44,820
$49,430
+10% in Virginia Beach, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.5 yr
37.4 yr
+0.1 yr in Shreveport, LA
Homeownership
53.8%
64.9%
+11.1 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.5%
40.4%
+12.9 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Avg Commute
19.0 min
23.2 min
+4.2 min in Virginia Beach, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,235.4
96.9
+92% in Shreveport, LA
Property Crime
4,048.2
1,664.9
+59% 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
59.9°F
+5.6°F in Shreveport, LA
Annual Precipitation
51.0 in
44.3 in
+6.6 in in Shreveport, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.86/gal
+7% in Virginia Beach, VA

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
17.6
+24% in Virginia Beach, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$23.66
+42% in Virginia Beach, 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 (LA / VA)
5%
5.3%
+0.3 pp in VA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
5.75%
+2.8 pp in VA

Shreveport vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Shreveport or Virginia Beach?
Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,550, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Shreveport than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Shreveport versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Shreveport or Virginia Beach?
Shreveport is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Virginia Beach under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).