Wondering how far your dollar stretches in Lafayette compared to Shreveport? Below we break down housing costs, rent, taxes, income, and quality of life using 2026 data so you can make an informed relocation or remote-work decision. Every number is computed from Census, BLS, and Zillow data specific to these two metro areas.
| Lafayette | Metric | Shreveport | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 88 | Cost of Living Index | 82 | -6.8% |
| $215,000 | Median Home Price | $165,000 | -23.3% |
| $950 | Median Monthly Rent | $850 | -10.5% |
| $52,200 | Median Household Income | $46,800 | -10.3% |
| 0.6% | Property Tax Rate | 0.5% | -8.3% |
| 4.2% | Unemployment Rate | 5.8% | +38.1% |
| 22 min | Average Commute | 22 min | +0.0% |
| 33.5 | Median Age | 35.5 | +6.0% |
| 490,000 | Metro Population | 440,000 | -10.2% |
Data sourced from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024-2025). COL Index: 100 = national average.
Monthly mortgage assumes 6.5% interest, 30-year fixed, 20.0%down payment. PITI includes principal, interest, property tax, and homeowner's insurance.
Buying a home in Lafayette costs $1,257/month (PITI) compared to $958/month in Shreveport — a difference of $299/month or $3,588/year. The price-to-income ratio is 4.1x in Lafayette versus 3.5x in Shreveport, suggesting Shreveport is relatively more affordable for homebuyers relative to local incomes. At a 15% savings rate, it takes 5.5 years to save a down payment in Lafayette compared to 4.7 years in Shreveport.
Estimated on each city's median household income, single filer, standard deduction, 2025 rates.
| Tax Category | Lafayette | Shreveport |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | $52,200 | $46,800 |
| State Income Tax | $1,191 | $1,029 |
| Federal Income Tax | $4,135 | $3,487 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $3,993 | $3,581 |
| Property Tax (on median home) | $1,290/yr | $908/yr |
| State Sales Tax Rate | 4.5% | 4.5% |
| Total Tax Burden | $9,319 (17.9%) | $8,097 (17.3%) |
| Take-Home Pay | $42,881 | $38,703 |
On median household income, total taxes (federal + state + FICA) come to $9,319 in Lafayette (17.9% effective) versus $8,097 in Shreveport (17.3% effective). After taxes, take-home pay is $42,881 in Lafayette and $38,703 in Shreveport. Property taxes add $1,290/year on the median Lafayette home versus $908/year in Shreveport.
These figures adjust for cost of living using the formula: adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). If you earn $52,200 in Lafayette (COL 88) and relocate to Shreveport (COL 82), you would need $48,641 to maintain the same purchasing power. This means you can take a pay cut of $3,559 and still maintain your lifestyle in Shreveport.
Beyond costs, quality of life matters. The average commute in Lafayette is 22 minutes versus 22 minutes in Shreveport, a difference of 0 minutes each way. Lafayette's lower unemployment rate of 4.2% versus 5.8% suggests a stronger job market. Shreveport skews slightly older with a median age of 35.5 vs 33.5 in Lafayette.
Lafayette is 6.8% more expensive than Shreveport overall. Lafayette has a cost of living index of 88 compared to 82 for Shreveport (national average = 100). The biggest difference is housing: the median home costs $215,000 in Lafayette vs $165,000 in Shreveport.
The median home price in Lafayette is $215,000, which is $50,000 more than Shreveport's median of $165,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $950/month in Lafayette vs $850/month in Shreveport, a difference of $100/month or $1,200/year.
To maintain the same standard of living, a $52,200 salary in Lafayette is equivalent to $48,641 in Shreveport. This is based on the cost of living index ratio: Lafayette's COL index of 88 vs Shreveport's 82. Conversely, $46,800 in Shreveport equals $50,224 in Lafayette.
On a median household income, the combined federal, state, and FICA tax burden is $9,319 (17.9% effective rate) in Lafayette vs $8,097 (17.3% effective rate) in Shreveport. Property taxes on the median home are $1,290/year in Lafayette (0.6% rate) vs $908/year in Shreveport (0.5% rate). Sales tax rates are 4.5% in Louisiana and 4.5% in Louisiana.
Lafayette median household income: $52,200/yr. Shreveport median household income: $46,800/yr (Census ACS).
Median monthly rent: $950 in Lafayette vs $850 in Shreveport. Annualized that is $11,400 vs $10,200.
Shreveport offers a lower cost of living (index 82 vs 88), which lets remote-workers keeping a coastal salary stretch further. Lafayette typically wins on amenities and labor-market depth.
Lafayette and Shreveport numbers are pulled from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI (home values, rent), the U.S. Census Bureau ACS (income, demographics), and BEA RPP (cost-of-living index). Each value is timestamped on the page.
Source feeds (Zillow, Freddie Mac PMMS, Census ACS, BEA RPP) are refreshed on their native cadence. Page caches revalidate every 24 hours via Next.js ISR.
No. The Lafayette vs Shreveport cost-of-living page is educational reference using public data and standard formulas. It is not personalized tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult a licensed professional for material decisions.
Home prices use Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI)[1]; rents use Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI)[1]. Median household income comes from the Census ACS 5-year estimates[2].
COL indices use the BEA Regional Price Parity methodology[3], normalized so 100 = national average.
Property tax rates are effective rates from the Tax Foundation[4], expressed as % of owner-occupied home value. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% fixed rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down, $1,800/yr homeowners insurance.
Federal tax calculations[6] assume single filer, standard deduction. State tax uses the top marginal rate times taxable income after the state standard deduction. FICA = 6.2% Social Security (up to wage base) + 1.45% Medicare.
Salary equivalence uses adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). This captures cost-of-living shift but not state income tax differences.
Unemployment figures are the most recent monthly MSA-level readings from the BLS LAUS series[7].
Last reviewed is computed from the maximum retrievedAt across every source this page consumes.
City data from Census Bureau[2], BLS[7], and Zillow[1] (2024-2025). Tax calculations use 2025 IRS rates[6], single filer, standard deduction. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% PMMS rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down. COL Index: 100 = national average[3]. Last reviewed .