CostIndexUSA

Lake Charles, LA vs Rancho Cucamonga, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableLA
Lake Charles
85.9
overall index
$1,150/mo rent
CA
Rancho Cucamonga
106.4
overall index
$2,475/mo rent

Lake Charles is significantly cheaper than Rancho Cucamonga — 23.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Lake Charles, you would need $99,100 in Rancho Cucamonga. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+149.6%
Lake Charles
51.8
Rancho Cucamonga
129.3
🛒 Groceries+8.2%
Lake Charles
93.7
Rancho Cucamonga
101.4
🚗 Transportation+5.8%
Lake Charles
100.5
Rancho Cucamonga
106.3
🏥 Healthcare+5.8%
Lake Charles
90.9
Rancho Cucamonga
96.2
⚡ Utilities+107.3%
Lake Charles
71.7
Rancho Cucamonga
148.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Rancho Cucamonga, CA
$99,100
$19,100 more needed in Rancho Cucamonga

Formula: salary × (106.4 ÷ 85.9) = salary × 1.2386. 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×

Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Median Home Price
$576,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,475
Housing Index
129.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.4×

Rancho Cucamonga has 149.6% 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

Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Median Household Income
$87,800
Per Capita Income
$50,000
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
174,453
Top Industries
ManufacturingLogisticsHealthcareRetailFinance

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)

Rancho Cucamonga, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

66% 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

Rancho Cucamonga vs other cities

Rancho Cucamonga, CA
vs
Anaheim, CA
Index: 106.4Index: 113.6
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
vs
Bakersfield, CA
Index: 106.4Index: 100.9
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
vs
Chico, CA
Index: 106.4Index: 101.2
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
vs
Salem, OR
Index: 106.4Index: 103.6
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
vs
Cary, NC
Index: 106.4Index: 98.2

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.