CostIndexUSA

Charleston, SC vs Shreveport, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

SC
Charleston
101
overall index
$1,950/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Shreveport
84.8
overall index
$1,250/mo rent

Shreveport is significantly cheaper than Charleston — 16.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charleston, you would need $67,200 in Shreveport. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing56.3%
Charleston
119.8
Shreveport
52.3
🛒 Groceries2.7%
Charleston
96.3
Shreveport
93.7
🚗 Transportation2.6%
Charleston
103.2
Shreveport
100.5
🏥 Healthcare2.7%
Charleston
93.4
Shreveport
90.9
Utilities17.7%
Charleston
88.2
Shreveport
72.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Shreveport, LA
$67,200
$12,800 less needed in Shreveport

Formula: salary × (84.8 ÷ 101) = salary × 0.8396. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Charleston, SC

Median Home Price
$425,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,950
Housing Index
119.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.2×

Shreveport, LA

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

Charleston has 56.3% lower housing costs compared to Shreveport.

Income & Job Market

Charleston, SC

Median Household Income
$85,200
Per Capita Income
$48,600
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
150,227
Top Industries
MilitaryTourismHealthcareTechnologyManufacturing

Shreveport, LA

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

Affordability at a Glance

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

Charleston, SC
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Shreveport, LA
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.