CostIndexUSA

Albuquerque, NM vs Lake Charles, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NM
Albuquerque
95.5
overall index
$1,525/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Lake Charles
85.9
overall index
$1,150/mo rent

Lake Charles is moderately cheaper than Albuquerque — 10.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Albuquerque, you would need $72,000 in Lake Charles. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing−41.9%
Albuquerque
89.2
Lake Charles
51.8
🛒 Groceries−2.5%
Albuquerque
96.1
Lake Charles
93.7
🚗 Transportation−2.9%
Albuquerque
103.5
Lake Charles
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−2.9%
Albuquerque
93.6
Lake Charles
90.9
⚡ Utilities−8.0%
Albuquerque
77.9
Lake Charles
71.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Albuquerque to see what you'd need to earn in Lake Charles to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
→
Equivalent salary in Lake Charles, LA
$72,000
$8,000 less needed in Lake Charles

Formula: salary × (85.9 ÷ 95.5) = salary × 0.8995. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Albuquerque, NM

Median Home Price
$340,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,525
Housing Index
89.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.6×

Lake Charles, LA

Median Home Price
$190,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,150
Housing Index
51.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.8×

Albuquerque has 41.9% lower housing costs compared to Lake Charles.

Income & Job Market

Albuquerque, NM

Median Household Income
$67,600
Per Capita Income
$38,500
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
564,559
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareEducationMilitaryTechnology

Lake Charles, LA

Median Household Income
$65,100
Per Capita Income
$37,100
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
77,403
Top Industries
EnergyPetrochemicalsHealthcareGamingManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Albuquerque, NM
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Lake Charles, LA
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Albuquerque vs other cities

Albuquerque, NM
vs
Las Cruces, NM
Index: 95.5Index: 90.2
Albuquerque, NM
vs
Santa Fe, NM
Index: 95.5Index: 98.8
Albuquerque, NM
vs
Milwaukee, WI
Index: 95.5Index: 96.9
Albuquerque, NM
vs
Baltimore, MD
Index: 95.5Index: 104.5
Albuquerque, NM
vs
Tucson, AZ
Index: 95.5Index: 96.9

Lake Charles vs other cities

Lake Charles, LA
vs
Baton Rouge, LA
Index: 85.9Index: 90.8
Lake Charles, LA
vs
Lafayette, LA
Index: 85.9Index: 87.2
Lake Charles, LA
vs
Monroe, LA
Index: 85.9Index: 83.6
Lake Charles, LA
vs
Appleton, WI
Index: 85.9Index: 92.4
Lake Charles, LA
vs
Jonesboro, AR
Index: 85.9Index: 85.9

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.