Balanced market
Flagstaff, AZ
High value
Shreveport, LA

Shreveport wins overall by ~26% (COL index)

Cost of living: Flagstaff vs Shreveport (2026)

A $60,000 salary in Flagstaff buys roughly what $47,647 does in Shreveport (COL-adjusted). Your real trade-offs are taxes, rent, and day-to-day prices โ€” we break them down and personalize below.

๐Ÿ’ฐ2.5% vs 4.3% state tax ยท ~$1,080/yr take-home gap
๐Ÿ 39% rent gap (~$7,800/yr)
๐Ÿ›’8% higher groceries index

Your move simulator

Tell us about your household โ€” we calculate your real annual savings.

๐Ÿ’ต Household income (before tax)$60K
$40K$600K+
๐Ÿ  Apartment size
๐Ÿš— Cars in household
Flagstaff
$3,668/mo
take-home pay
Shreveport
$3,578/mo
take-home pay

Estimated annual swing

โˆ’$8,992/yr

Favoring Shreveport for this income & household (illustrative).

With the extra $749/mo, you could pay down a $15,000 card balance in ~21 months and still keep ~$90/mo for dining out.

HousingTaxesGroceries
Flagstaff
Shreveport
๐Ÿ  HousingQ1 2026

Studio rent/mo

$1,300
$800โœ“ better
Shreveport saves $500/mo
๐Ÿ’ฐ $6,000/yr in Shreveport

1BR rent/mo

$1,650
$1,000โœ“ better
Shreveport saves $650/mo
๐Ÿ’ฐ $7,800/yr in Shreveport

2BR rent/mo

$2,200
$1,300โœ“ better
Shreveport saves $900/mo
๐Ÿ’ฐ $10,800/yr in Shreveport

Median home price

$500K
$190Kโœ“ better
Shreveport saves $310K
๐Ÿ›’ Food & GroceriesQ1 2026

Groceries index (100 = US avg)

101
93โœ“ better
Shreveport saves -8

Budget meal (1 person)

$14
$11โœ“ better
Shreveport saves $3/mo

Mid-range dinner (2)

$58
$46โœ“ better
Shreveport saves $12/mo
๐ŸšŒ TransportationQ1 2026

Monthly transit pass/mo

$45
$40โœ“ better
Shreveport saves $5/mo

Gas price/gal

$3.30
$2.98โœ“ better
Shreveport saves $0.32

Car insurance/mo

$155โœ“ better
$198
Flagstaff saves $43/mo
๐Ÿ’ฐ $516/yr in Flagstaff
โšก UtilitiesQ1 2026

Monthly utilities bundle/mo

$195โœ“ better
$205
Flagstaff saves $10/mo

Internet/mo

$65
$58โœ“ better
Shreveport saves $7/mo
๐Ÿ’ฐ Income & TaxesQ1 2026

Median household income/yr

$58Kโœ“ better
$43K
Flagstaff earns $15K

State income tax%

2.5%โœ“ better
4.3%
Flagstaff saves 1.8 pp
๐Ÿ’ฐ $1,080/yr in Flagstaff

Sales tax (combined)%

8.5%โœ“ better
9.5%
Flagstaff saves 1.0 pp
๐ŸŽฌ LeisureQ1 2026

Movie ticket

$15.00
$12.00โœ“ better
Shreveport saves $3.00

Gym membership/mo

$40
$30โœ“ better
Shreveport saves $10/mo

Beer at restaurant

$6.50
$5.00โœ“ better
Shreveport saves $1.50
๐Ÿ“Š OverviewQ1 2026

Overall COL index (100 = US avg)

102
81โœ“ better
Shreveport saves -21

Walk score / 100

30โœ“ better
20
Flagstaff earns -10

Complete the Picture

While youโ€™re comparing โ€” donโ€™t leave money on the table.

๐Ÿ’ฐ

Tax-smart rewards

Turn ~$1,080/yr tax difference into cash back

Shreveport fits your move math โ€” cash-back cards stack on groceries, gas, and dining you're already doing.

See top cash-back cards
๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ

Home + auto bundle

New state โ€” new insurance rates

Bundling often saves hundreds/yr. Compare before you sign a lease in Shreveport.

Browse insurance
๐Ÿฆ

High-yield savings

Park ~$7,800/yr rent savings at 4โ€“5%+ APY

Don't let relocation cash sit at 0% โ€” put it to work until closing day.

Compare savings rates

Ready to move?

Open the full interactive tool to add up to 5 cities, drop in your salary, and see rent burden.

Open full interactive tool

Complete the Picture

While youโ€™re comparing โ€” donโ€™t leave money on the table.

๐Ÿ“‰

If cash is tight

Knock down high-interest debt first

A move has upfront costs โ€” a balance transfer or personal loan can lower APR while you settle in.

Compare loans
๐Ÿ“ˆ

If you're saving big

Invest the surplus on autopilot

Brokerages and robo-advisors help you dollar-cost average into the market with your new slack.

See investing options

Frequently asked questions

Is Flagstaff cheaper than Shreveport?

No. Shreveport is 26% cheaper than Flagstaff based on overall cost of living indices (81 vs 102, where 100 = US average).

What is the average rent in Flagstaff vs Shreveport?

As of Q1 2026, the median 1-bedroom rent in Flagstaff is $1,650/month and in Shreveport is $1,000/month. Flagstaff is more expensive by 65%.

How much do I need to earn in Shreveport to match a $75,000 salary in Flagstaff?

To maintain a similar lifestyle, you would need approximately $59,559/year in Shreveport to match a $75,000 salary in Flagstaff. This estimate is based on overall cost of living indices and does not account for individual spending patterns.

Which city has lower taxes โ€” Flagstaff or Shreveport?

Flagstaff has the lower state income tax rate at 2.5% vs 4.3%. The difference is 1.8 percentage points. Note that sales tax and local taxes also vary โ€” see the full breakdown in the table above.

Is it worth moving from Flagstaff to Shreveport?

It depends on your priorities. Shreveport offers lower overall costs, but both cities have different job markets, weather, and lifestyle trade-offs. Use the comparison table above to evaluate rent, groceries, transportation, and income potential side by side based on your specific budget.

Data sourced from Zillow, BLS, Numbeo, Tax Foundation, and US Census ACS ยท Updated Q1 2026 ยท For general guidance only

Planning a move?

Salary equivalent: Flagstaff โ†” Shreveport

How much would you need to earn in Shreveport to match your Flagstaff purchasing power?

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