CostIndexUSA

Lake Charles, LA vs Oklahoma City, OK Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableLA
Lake Charles
85.9
overall index
$1,150/mo rent
OK
Oklahoma City
90.4
overall index
$1,350/mo rent

Lake Charles is moderately cheaper than Oklahoma City — 5.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Lake Charles, you would need $84,200 in Oklahoma City. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+42.7%
Lake Charles
51.8
Oklahoma City
73.9
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Lake Charles
93.7
Oklahoma City
93.8
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Lake Charles
100.5
Oklahoma City
100.2
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Lake Charles
90.9
Oklahoma City
90.7
⚡ Utilities+3.3%
Lake Charles
71.7
Oklahoma City
74.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Oklahoma City, OK
$84,200
$4,200 more needed in Oklahoma City

Formula: salary × (90.4 ÷ 85.9) = salary × 1.0524. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Lake Charles, LA

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

Oklahoma City, OK

Median Home Price
$239,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,350
Housing Index
73.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

Oklahoma City has 42.7% higher housing costs compared to Lake Charles.

Income & Job Market

Lake Charles, LA

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

Oklahoma City, OK

Median Household Income
$69,900
Per Capita Income
$39,800
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
681,054
Top Industries
EnergyGovernmentHealthcareAgricultureAerospace

Affordability at a Glance

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

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

79% of income left after rent (median)

Oklahoma City, OK
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

77% of income left after rent (median)

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

Oklahoma City vs other cities

Oklahoma City, OK
vs
Tulsa, OK
Index: 90.4Index: 89.2
Oklahoma City, OK
vs
El Paso, TX
Index: 90.4Index: 89.9
Oklahoma City, OK
vs
Detroit, MI
Index: 90.4Index: 100.3
Oklahoma City, OK
vs
Nashville, TN
Index: 90.4Index: 96.3
Oklahoma City, OK
vs
Washington, DC
Index: 90.4Index: 108.9

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.