Lafayette, LA vs Shreveport, LA

Shreveport is moderately more affordable than Lafayette, with a 11.5% lower cost of living index. Lafayette scores 84 compared to 75 for Shreveport, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Lafayette can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Lafayette is $1,065/month compared to $980/month in Shreveport — a 9% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Shreveport is more affordable at $178,100 median vs $251,300.

Median household income in Lafayette is $61,454 compared to $48,465 in Shreveport (+26.8%). While Lafayette is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Lafayette spend roughly 20.8% of their income on rent, less than the 24.3% in Shreveport.