What is the cost of living in Lake Charles, LA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Lake Charles has an overall cost of living index of 95, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Louisiana, Lake Charles has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Louisiana's index of 91.
The standard of living in Lake Charles ranks as #50 most affordable out of the 103 places we measured in Louisiana. By definition, that implies Lake Charles ranks as the #53 most expensive place in the Pelican State.
For more reading on life in Lake Charles, check out:
Lake Charles Cost Of Living Vs. Louisiana
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Lake Charles. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Lake Charles is 99.
The Groceries index in Lake Charles is 96.
The Health index in Lake Charles is 85.
The Housing index in Lake Charles is 95.
The Transportation index in Lake Charles is 105.
The Utilities index in Lake Charles is 95.
| Living Expense | Lake Charles | Louisiana | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 95 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 85 | 82 | 100 |
| Housing | 95 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 105 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 96 | 100 |
Lake Charles Cost Of Living Compared To Louisiana Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Louisiana, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Lake Charles Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Lake Charles, LA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Louisiana, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Lake Charles is $199,011.
The Median Rent in Lake Charles is $1,109.
The Median Income in Lake Charles is $59,235.
The Home Value To Income in Lake Charles is 3.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Lake Charles is 0.22x.
| Statistic | Lake Charles | Louisiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $199,011 | $211,634 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,109 | $1,064 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $59,235 | $60,756 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.4x | 3.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.21x | 0.21x |
Lake Charles, LA Costs By Category
Detailed Lake Charles Services costs vs. Louisiana
| Item | Lake Charles | Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.16 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $8.8 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $13.11 | $18 |
| Haircut | $28.06 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $36.33 | $45.56 |
Detailed Lake Charles Groceries costs vs. Louisiana
| Item | Lake Charles | Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.2 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.4 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.49 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.35 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.35 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.97 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.55 | $3.7 |
Detailed Lake Charles Health costs vs. Louisiana
| Item | Lake Charles | Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $122.17 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $140.61 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $115.15 | $113.29 |
Detailed Lake Charles Transportation costs vs. Louisiana
| Item | Lake Charles | Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.08 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $50.28 | $59.92 |
Detailed Lake Charles Utilities costs vs. Louisiana
| Item | Lake Charles | Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $127.9 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.9 | $192.25 |
Lake Charles SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Lake Charles
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Lake Charles. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Sulphur, LA has a cost of living index of 93, 1.0x Lake Charles.
Orange, TX has a cost of living index of 89, 0.9x Lake Charles.
Nederland, TX has a cost of living index of 93, 1.0x Lake Charles.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Lake Charles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sulphur, LA | 20,775 | 93 | 1.0x |
| Orange, TX | 19,177 | 89 | 0.9x |
| Nederland, TX | 18,381 | 93 | 1.0x |
| Groves, TX | 16,976 | 90 | 0.9x |
| Port Neches, TX | 13,664 | 95 | 1.0x |
| Moss Bluff, LA | 12,482 | 100 | 1.1x |
| DeRidder, LA | 9,763 | 93 | 1.0x |
| Vidor, TX | 9,708 | 86 | 0.9x |
| Jennings, LA | 9,553 | 83 | 0.9x |
| Prien, LA | 7,119 | 113 | 1.2x |
