CostIndexUSA

Lafayette, LA vs Shreveport, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

LA
Lafayette
87.2
overall index
$1,325/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Shreveport
84.8
overall index
$1,250/mo rent

Shreveport is slightly cheaper than Lafayette — 2.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Lafayette, you would need $77,800 in Shreveport. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing−11.1%
Lafayette
58.8
Shreveport
52.3
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Lafayette
93.7
Shreveport
93.7
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Lafayette
100.5
Shreveport
100.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Lafayette
90.9
Shreveport
90.9
⚡ Utilities+2.0%
Lafayette
71.2
Shreveport
72.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Lafayette to see what you'd need to earn in Shreveport to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
→
Equivalent salary in Shreveport, LA
$77,800
$2,200 less needed in Shreveport

Formula: salary × (84.8 ÷ 87.2) = salary × 0.9725. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Lafayette, LA

Median Home Price
$194,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,325
Housing Index
58.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.2×

Shreveport, LA

Median Home Price
$171,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,250
Housing Index
52.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.4×

Lafayette has 11.1% lower housing costs compared to Shreveport.

Income & Job Market

Lafayette, LA

Median Household Income
$57,300
Per Capita Income
$32,700
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
120,623
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareEducationManufacturingRetail

Shreveport, LA

Median Household Income
$54,900
Per Capita Income
$31,300
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
187,593
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareGovernmentManufacturingMilitary

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Lafayette, LA
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

Shreveport, LA
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Lafayette vs other cities

Lafayette, LA
vs
Baton Rouge, LA
Index: 87.2Index: 90.8
Lafayette, LA
vs
Lake Charles, LA
Index: 87.2Index: 85.9
Lafayette, LA
vs
Monroe, LA
Index: 87.2Index: 83.6
Lafayette, LA
vs
College Station, TX
Index: 87.2Index: 91
Lafayette, LA
vs
Hartford, CT
Index: 87.2Index: 102.7

Shreveport vs other cities

Shreveport, LA
vs
Baton Rouge, LA
Index: 84.8Index: 90.8
Shreveport, LA
vs
Lake Charles, LA
Index: 84.8Index: 85.9
Shreveport, LA
vs
Monroe, LA
Index: 84.8Index: 83.6
Shreveport, LA
vs
Mobile, AL
Index: 84.8Index: 88.1
Shreveport, LA
vs
Newport News, VA
Index: 84.8Index: 97.9

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.