CostIndexUSA

Shreveport, LA vs Waterloo, IA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableLA
Shreveport
84.8
overall index
$1,250/mo rent
IA
Waterloo
87.1
overall index
$1,075/mo rent

Shreveport is slightly cheaper than Waterloo — 2.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Shreveport, you would need $82,200 in Waterloo. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+20.7%
Shreveport
52.3
Waterloo
63.1
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Shreveport
93.7
Waterloo
93.7
🚗 Transportation2.9%
Shreveport
100.5
Waterloo
97.6
🏥 Healthcare2.9%
Shreveport
90.9
Waterloo
88.3
Utilities+15.3%
Shreveport
72.6
Waterloo
83.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Waterloo, IA
$82,200
$2,200 more needed in Waterloo

Formula: salary × (87.1 ÷ 84.8) = salary × 1.0271. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Shreveport, LA

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

Waterloo, IA

Median Home Price
$192,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,075
Housing Index
63.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.9×

Waterloo has 20.7% higher housing costs compared to Shreveport.

Income & Job Market

Shreveport, LA

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

Waterloo, IA

Median Household Income
$62,400
Per Capita Income
$35,600
Unemployment Rate
3%
Population
67,470
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareAgricultureRetailEducation

Affordability at a Glance

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

Shreveport, LA
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Waterloo, IA
4.8×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

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.