Question 1

Is Chattanooga or Shreveport cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $138/month less than in Chattanooga, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,390/mo in Chattanooga versus $1,111/mo in Shreveport.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Chattanooga vs Shreveport?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $67,500/year before tax in Chattanooga, TN and $67,000/year in Shreveport, LA — a difference of about $500. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Chattanooga or Shreveport cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Shreveport, the same answer as for a single person. Two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child run about $8,258/month in Chattanooga and $8,224/month in Shreveport, including county-median childcare.

Question 4

Should I move to Chattanooga or Shreveport?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Shreveport costs less month to month, but cost is one of six factors — jobs, safety, climate, housing and amenities all differ too. Compare them against your own income and priorities rather than a single ranking.

Metric	Chattanooga60	Shreveport54
Est. monthly cost (single)	$3,883	$3,745
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$8,258	$8,224
Salary for comfort	$67,500/yr	$67,000/yr
Typical rent	$1,390	$1,111
Median home value	$259,200	$178,100
Median household income	$61,028	$48,465
Unemployment	4.0%	5.1%
Housing score	55	62
Jobs score	57	41
Safety score	20	10
Climate score	100	98
Amenities score	26	15
Population	182.8K	183.5K
Summer high / winter low	90° / 31°	93° / 36°

Chattanooga, TN vs Shreveport, LA