Champaign-Urbana Shreveport-Bossier City

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Should you move?

Moving from Champaign-Urbana to Shreveport-Bossier City is less favorable: BEA regional price parity goes from 92.7 to 84.8 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent falls by $11/mo.

-$9,557
BLS median salary lower in Shreveport-Bossier City
277 to 410
violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
14:1 to 16.8:1
NCES student-teacher ratio
$4,861
DOL infant care lower / yr in Shreveport-Bossier City

BEA Regional Price Parity, HUD Fair Market Rent, BLS OEWS, FBI UCR, NCES, and DOL. The table below lets you override the composite with your own priorities.

Verdict
Less Favorable
Cost Index: 92.7 → 84.8
Rent Delta: -$11/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + 8% lower cost of living
  • + More affordable childcare

Cons of Moving

  • - $10K lower median salary
  • - Higher violent crime rate
  • - Higher student-teacher ratios
  • - More environmental violations

Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP falls from 92.7 to 84.8, so each dollar covers more in Shreveport-Bossier City (ratio 0.91). HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent barely moves ($1,122 → $1,111); the housing line is not the swing factor on this corridor.

The seven-dimension ledger splits (3 destination wins · 4 origin wins); priorities decide this move. Shreveport-Bossier City sits #236 of 387 metros on PlainRelocate livability (middle third). Champaign-Urbana is #65/387 on the same ranking. Composite verdict: Less Favorable. Override it with the dimension table below.

BLS OEWS median salary moves $9,557 lower ($66,936 → $57,379). Labor-market size: 94,460 tracked jobs at origin vs 154,880 at destination.

State retirement friendliness favors the destination: Louisiana scores 67 (C, #15/51) vs Illinois at 58 (D, #31/51). Full state tax and healthcare sub-scores sit in the retirement desk below.

Dimension
Champaign-Urbana
Shreveport-Bossier City
Winner
Cost of Living
RPP 92.7
RPP 84.8
Shreveport-Bossier City
Rent (2BR)
$1,122/mo
$1,111/mo
Shreveport-Bossier City
Wages
$66,936
$57,379
Champaign-Urbana
Crime
277 per 100K
410 per 100K
Champaign-Urbana
Schools
14:1
16.8:1
Champaign-Urbana
Childcare
$12,257/yr
$7,396/yr
Shreveport-Bossier City
Environment
3029 violations
14536 violations
Champaign-Urbana

State retirement friendliness

Primary-state scores from PlainRelocate's retirement registry (tax + healthcare + climate composite). Metro pairs use each metro's primary state abbreviation.

Origin state · Illinois
58 D #31/51
Income tax
95
Property tax
46
Estate tax
50
Healthcare
46
Destination state · Louisiana
67 C #15/51
Income tax
78
Property tax
79
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
8

Full retirement ranking · Source composite documented on methodology (Tax Foundation + AARP tax guides + federal healthcare/climate inputs).

Salary Adjustment Calculator

Enter your current salary in Champaign-Urbana to see what you'd need to earn in Shreveport-Bossier City to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Shreveport-Bossier City
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Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA; retirement desk: Tax Foundation + AARP tax guides June 2026