CostIndexUSA

Joplin, MO vs Lake Charles, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostMO
Joplin
85.7
overall index
$1,250/mo rent
LA
Lake Charles
85.9
overall index
$1,150/mo rent

Joplin and Lake Charles have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−4.1%
Joplin
54
Lake Charles
51.8
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Joplin
94.2
Lake Charles
93.7
🚗 Transportation+2.9%
Joplin
97.7
Lake Charles
100.5
🏥 Healthcare+2.8%
Joplin
88.4
Lake Charles
90.9
⚡ Utilities−16.5%
Joplin
85.9
Lake Charles
71.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Lake Charles, LA
$80,200
$200 more needed in Lake Charles

Formula: salary × (85.9 ÷ 85.7) = salary × 1.0023. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Joplin, MO

Median Home Price
$216,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,250
Housing Index
54
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.4×

Lake Charles, LA

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

Joplin has 4.1% lower housing costs compared to Lake Charles.

Income & Job Market

Joplin, MO

Median Household Income
$57,900
Per Capita Income
$33,000
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
50,843
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingRetailEducationFinance

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).

Joplin, MO
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

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

79% of income left after rent (median)

Joplin vs other cities

Joplin, MO
vs
Columbia, MO
Index: 85.7Index: 89.4
Joplin, MO
vs
Kansas City, MO
Index: 85.7Index: 92.5
Joplin, MO
vs
Springfield, MO
Index: 85.7Index: 88.6
Joplin, MO
vs
Twin Falls, ID
Index: 85.7Index: 92.1
Joplin, MO
vs
Harrisburg, PA
Index: 85.7Index: 98.7

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.