Baton Rouge, LA vs Shreveport, LA

Shreveport is moderately more affordable than Baton Rouge, with a 9.4% lower cost of living index. Baton Rouge scores 82 compared to 75 for Shreveport, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Baton Rouge can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Baton Rouge is $1,044/month compared to $980/month in Shreveport — a 7% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Shreveport is more affordable at $178,100 median vs $224,500.

Median household income in Baton Rouge is $49,944 compared to $48,465 in Shreveport (+3.1%). Baton Rouge does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Baton Rouge spend roughly 25.1% of their income on rent, more than the 24.3% in Shreveport.