City comparison
Olympia, WA vs Shreveport, LA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Olympia, WA are 22.3% higher than in Shreveport, LA. Someone earning $100,000 in Shreveport, LA would need about $122,300 in Olympia, WA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,682 a month in Olympia, WA versus $982 in Shreveport, LA. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Olympia, WA and 15% in Shreveport, LA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,614 a year higher in Shreveport, LA than in Olympia, WA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −11.0% moving from Olympia, WA to Shreveport, LA ($119,630 → $106,437), while prices change by −18.2%. Net effect of the transfer: +8.8% in real buying power.
- Olympia, WA: price level 103.7 (pricier)
- 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
| Olympia, WA | Shreveport, LA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 103.7 | 84.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $81,765 in Shreveport | $122,301 in Olympia |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,682/mo | $982/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $76,566 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (WA) | $2,614 (LA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 25% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $61,960 | $44,820 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Seattle-Tacoma, WA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA MSA and Shreveport-Bossier City, LA MSA. Metro areas: Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA and Shreveport-Bossier City, LA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Olympia | Shreveport |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 116.7 | 52.3 |
| Goods | 105.0 | 93.7 |
| Utilities | 91.7 | 72.6 |
| Other services | 99.5 | 95.7 |
| Overall | 103.7 | 84.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Olympia, WA → Shreveport, LA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +22.3%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$2,614/yr.
100 Strong offer
Shreveport, LA → Olympia, WA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −18.2%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$2,614/yr.
37 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Olympia, WA is in the Seattle-Tacoma, WA pay area; Shreveport, LA is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Olympia, WA to Shreveport, LA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Olympia, WA | Shreveport, LA | Real change, Olympia → Shreveport |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,373 | $61,722 | +8.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,935 | $74,678 | +8.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,602 | $89,508 | +8.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $119,630 | $106,437 | +8.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $141,367 | $125,776 | +8.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Olympia, WA | Shreveport, LA | Shreveport pay in Olympia dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $104,650 | $61,850 | $75,643 (−27.7%) |
| Software Developers | $124,060 | $96,680 | $118,241 (−4.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $94,470 | $70,420 | $86,125 (−8.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $125,020 | $80,080 | $97,939 (−21.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.