CostIndexUSA

Jonesboro, AR vs Lake Charles, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostAR
Jonesboro
85.9
overall index
$1,325/mo rent
LA
Lake Charles
85.9
overall index
$1,150/mo rent

Jonesboro and Lake Charles have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−3.7%
Jonesboro
53.8
Lake Charles
51.8
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Jonesboro
93.6
Lake Charles
93.7
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Jonesboro
100.1
Lake Charles
100.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Jonesboro
90.5
Lake Charles
90.9
⚡ Utilities−4.4%
Jonesboro
75
Lake Charles
71.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Lake Charles, LA
$80,000
Same salary works in both cities

Formula: salary × (85.9 ÷ 85.9) = salary × 1.0000. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Jonesboro, AR

Median Home Price
$196,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,325
Housing Index
53.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.3×

Lake Charles, LA

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

Jonesboro has 3.7% lower housing costs compared to Lake Charles.

Income & Job Market

Jonesboro, AR

Median Household Income
$58,600
Per Capita Income
$33,400
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
77,678
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingRetailAgriculture

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).

Jonesboro, AR
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)

Jonesboro vs other cities

Jonesboro, AR
vs
Fayetteville, AR
Index: 85.9Index: 91.4
Jonesboro, AR
vs
Fort Smith, AR
Index: 85.9Index: 85.9
Jonesboro, AR
vs
Little Rock, AR
Index: 85.9Index: 89.4
Jonesboro, AR
vs
Appleton, WI
Index: 85.9Index: 92.4
Jonesboro, AR
vs
Scranton, PA
Index: 85.9Index: 93.6

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
Scranton, PA
Index: 85.9Index: 93.6

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.