Is it cheaper to live in Shreveport or Worcester?

Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Shreveport versus $41,000 in Worcester.

Which has lower taxes, Shreveport or Worcester?

Shreveport is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Shreveport vs Worcester Cost of Living 2026

Shreveport

Louisiana

$990/mo est.

Worcester

Massachusetts

$1,340/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $990 in Shreveport, LA versus $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Shreveport, LA is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Worcester, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $48,465 in Shreveport, LA and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 28% higher in Worcester, MA. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Shreveport, LA

Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio

$756

$1,087

+44% in Worcester, MA

1 Bedroom

$843

$1,028

+22% in Worcester, MA

2 Bedroom

$978

$1,476

+51% in Worcester, MA

3 Bedroom

$1,136

$1,675

+47% in Worcester, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$178,100

$339,500

+91% in Worcester, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$48,465

$67,544

+39% in Worcester, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$44,820

$57,830

+29% in Worcester, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.5 yr

34.1 yr

+3.4 yr in Shreveport, LA

Homeownership

53.8%

42.4%

+11.4 pp in Shreveport, LA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

27.5%

34.1%

+6.6 pp in Worcester, MA

Avg Commute

19.0 min

25.1 min

+6.1 min in Worcester, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,235.4

640.2

+48% in Shreveport, LA

Property Crime

4,048.2

1,580.3

+61% 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

47.9°F

+17.6°F in Shreveport, LA

Annual Precipitation

51.0 in

48.1 in

+2.9 in in Shreveport, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$4.07/gal

+12% in Worcester, MA

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.5

29.6

+119% in Worcester, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$16.62

$30.66

+84% in Worcester, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Worcester, MA

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Worcester, MA

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Shreveport, LA

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Worcester, MA

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Worcester, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Worcester, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / MA)

6.25%

+1.3 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

3.00%

9.00%

+6.0 pp in MA

Shreveport vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Shreveport or Worcester?: Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Shreveport than in Worcester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Shreveport versus $41,000 in Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Shreveport or Worcester?: Shreveport is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).