CostIndexUSA

Lake Charles, LA vs St. George, UT Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableLA
Lake Charles
85.9
overall index
$1,150/mo rent
UT
St. George
97.3
overall index
$1,900/mo rent

Lake Charles is moderately cheaper than St. George — 13.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Lake Charles, you would need $90,600 in St. George. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+89.4%
Lake Charles
51.8
St. George
98.1
🛒 Groceries+2.9%
Lake Charles
93.7
St. George
96.4
🚗 Transportation+3.4%
Lake Charles
100.5
St. George
103.9
🏥 Healthcare+3.4%
Lake Charles
90.9
St. George
94
Utilities+8.4%
Lake Charles
71.7
St. George
77.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in St. George, UT
$90,600
$10,600 more needed in St. George

Formula: salary × (97.3 ÷ 85.9) = salary × 1.1327. 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×

St. George, UT

Median Home Price
$520,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,900
Housing Index
98.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.8×

St. George has 89.4% 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

St. George, UT

Median Household Income
$77,500
Per Capita Income
$44,200
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
89,587
Top Industries
HealthcareTourismReal EstateRetailConstruction

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)

St. George, UT
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

71% of income left after rent (median)

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.