City comparison
Milwaukee, WI vs Shreveport, LA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Milwaukee, WI are 14.4% higher than in Shreveport, LA. Someone earning $100,000 in Shreveport, LA would need about $114,400 in Milwaukee, WI to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,119 a month in Milwaukee, WI versus $982 in Shreveport, LA. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Milwaukee, WI and 15% in Shreveport, LA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,306 a year higher in Milwaukee, WI than in Shreveport, LA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.4% moving from Milwaukee, WI to Shreveport, LA ($111,310 → $106,437), while prices change by −12.6%. Net effect of the transfer: +9.4% in real buying power.
- Milwaukee, WI: price level 96.9 (cheaper)
- Shreveport, LA: price level 84.8 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Milwaukee, WI | Shreveport, LA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.9 | 84.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $87,444 in Shreveport | $114,358 in Milwaukee |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,119/mo | $982/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,261 | $76,566 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,919 (WI) | $2,614 (LA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,160 | $44,820 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI MSA and Shreveport-Bossier City, LA MSA. Metro areas: Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI and Shreveport-Bossier City, LA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Milwaukee | Shreveport |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 97.1 | 52.3 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 93.7 |
| Utilities | 91.6 | 72.6 |
| Other services | 99.4 | 95.7 |
| Overall | 96.9 | 84.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Milwaukee, WI → Shreveport, LA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +14.4%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$1,306/yr.
100 Strong offer
Shreveport, LA → Milwaukee, WI
Same pay buys less
Buying power −12.6%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$1,306/yr.
38 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Milwaukee, WI is in the Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI pay area; Shreveport, LA is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Milwaukee, WI to Shreveport, LA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Milwaukee, WI | Shreveport, LA | Real change, Milwaukee → Shreveport |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,548 | $61,722 | +9.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,098 | $74,678 | +9.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,606 | $89,508 | +9.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,310 | $106,437 | +9.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,535 | $125,776 | +9.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Milwaukee, WI | Shreveport, LA | Shreveport pay in Milwaukee dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,480 | $61,850 | $70,731 (+15.0%) |
| Software Developers | $123,730 | $96,680 | $110,562 (−10.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,290 | $70,420 | $80,531 (+0.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $97,360 | $80,080 | $91,578 (−5.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.