CostIndexUSA

Lafayette, LA vs Lake Charles, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

LA
Lafayette
87.2
overall index
$1,325/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Lake Charles
85.9
overall index
$1,150/mo rent

Lake Charles is slightly cheaper than Lafayette — 1.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Lafayette, you would need $78,800 in Lake Charles. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−11.9%
Lafayette
58.8
Lake Charles
51.8
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Lafayette
93.7
Lake Charles
93.7
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Lafayette
100.5
Lake Charles
100.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Lafayette
90.9
Lake Charles
90.9
⚡ Utilities+0.7%
Lafayette
71.2
Lake Charles
71.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Lake Charles, LA
$78,800
$1,200 less needed in Lake Charles

Formula: salary × (85.9 ÷ 87.2) = salary × 0.9851. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Lafayette, LA

Median Home Price
$194,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,325
Housing Index
58.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.2×

Lake Charles, LA

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

Lafayette has 11.9% lower housing costs compared to Lake Charles.

Income & Job Market

Lafayette, LA

Median Household Income
$57,300
Per Capita Income
$32,700
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
120,623
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareEducationManufacturingRetail

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).

Lafayette, LA
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

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

79% of income left after rent (median)

Lafayette vs other cities

Lafayette, LA
vs
Baton Rouge, LA
Index: 87.2Index: 90.8
Lafayette, LA
vs
Monroe, LA
Index: 87.2Index: 83.6
Lafayette, LA
vs
New Orleans, LA
Index: 87.2Index: 92.6
Lafayette, LA
vs
College Station, TX
Index: 87.2Index: 91
Lafayette, LA
vs
Hartford, CT
Index: 87.2Index: 102.7

Lake Charles vs other cities

Lake Charles, LA
vs
Baton Rouge, LA
Index: 85.9Index: 90.8
Lake Charles, LA
vs
Monroe, LA
Index: 85.9Index: 83.6
Lake Charles, LA
vs
New Orleans, LA
Index: 85.9Index: 92.6
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.