Lake Charles, LA vs Jonesboro, AR: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Jonesboro, AR and Lake Charles, LA are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Lake Charles works out to about $75,000 in Jonesboro, before taxes.
- Housing is 4.1% higher in Jonesboro, goods 0.1% lower and other services 0.4% lower, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,237 a month in Jonesboro and $1,358 in Lake Charles, $1,452 a year less in Jonesboro (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $204,000 in Jonesboro and $202,000 in Lake Charles.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Jonesboro was 5.0% less expensive than Lake Charles.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Lake Charles and Jonesboro
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Lake Charles, LA
- Jonesboro, AR
All items Lake Charles, LA: 85.9 Jonesboro, AR: 85.9
Goods Lake Charles, LA: 93.7 Jonesboro, AR: 93.6
Housing (rents) Lake Charles, LA: 51.8 Jonesboro, AR: 53.8
Utilities Lake Charles, LA: 71.7 Jonesboro, AR: 75.0
Other services Lake Charles, LA: 95.7 Jonesboro, AR: 95.3
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Lake Charles, LA | Jonesboro, AR | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 85.9 | 85.9 |
| Goods | 93.7 | 93.6 |
| Housing (rents) | 51.8 | 53.8 |
| Utilities | 71.7 | 75.0 |
| Other services | 95.7 | 95.3 |
| Category | Lake Charles | Jonesboro | Jonesboro vs Lake Charles |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 85.9 | 85.9 | 0.0% |
| Goods | 93.7 | 93.6 | −0.1% |
| Housing (rents) | 51.8 | 53.8 | +4.1% |
| Utilities | 71.7 | 75.0 | +4.5% |
| Other services | 95.7 | 95.3 | −0.4% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,358 | $1,237 | −8.9% |
| Typical home value | $202,000 | $204,000 | +1.1% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Lake Charles | $75,000 | $75,000 | 0.0% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Lake Charles and Jonesboro has narrowed since 2008: 6.2 points then, 0.0 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Lake Charles, LA
- Jonesboro, AR
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Lake Charles, LA | Jonesboro, AR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 90.5 | 84.2 |
| 2009 | 87.4 | 81.9 |
| 2010 | 89.5 | 84.0 |
| 2011 | 90.5 | 85.4 |
| 2012 | 90.6 | 85.8 |
| 2013 | 91.2 | 85.1 |
| 2014 | 90.6 | 85.6 |
| 2015 | 91.3 | 85.5 |
| 2016 | 91.2 | 84.8 |
| 2017 | 91.8 | 85.4 |
| 2018 | 89.4 | 84.6 |
| 2019 | 89.9 | 85.4 |
| 2020 | 91.2 | 85.5 |
| 2021 | 90.6 | 86.7 |
| 2022 | 89.5 | 86.5 |
| 2023 | 87.1 | 86.0 |
| 2024 | 85.9 | 85.9 |
Goods
- Lake Charles, LA
- Jonesboro, AR
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Lake Charles, LA | Jonesboro, AR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 96.7 | 94.6 |
| 2009 | 94.3 | 92.2 |
| 2010 | 96.8 | 96.5 |
| 2011 | 96.4 | 94.9 |
| 2012 | 96.0 | 91.1 |
| 2013 | 96.5 | 92.9 |
| 2014 | 96.9 | 91.2 |
| 2015 | 95.8 | 90.7 |
| 2016 | 96.4 | 92.2 |
| 2017 | 96.2 | 91.5 |
| 2018 | 93.6 | 93.1 |
| 2019 | 95.1 | 94.8 |
| 2020 | 94.6 | 94.3 |
| 2021 | 95.2 | 95.6 |
| 2022 | 94.0 | 93.1 |
| 2023 | 93.0 | 93.1 |
| 2024 | 93.7 | 93.6 |
Housing (rents)
- Lake Charles, LA
- Jonesboro, AR
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Lake Charles, LA | Jonesboro, AR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 61.0 | 50.0 |
| 2009 | 56.4 | 47.2 |
| 2010 | 58.2 | 47.1 |
| 2011 | 60.2 | 53.0 |
| 2012 | 61.6 | 56.2 |
| 2013 | 61.3 | 50.0 |
| 2014 | 59.5 | 53.1 |
| 2015 | 63.1 | 53.7 |
| 2016 | 59.9 | 50.6 |
| 2017 | 65.6 | 52.8 |
| 2018 | 61.7 | 48.7 |
| 2019 | 64.9 | 50.8 |
| 2020 | 68.6 | 48.0 |
| 2021 | 63.1 | 53.3 |
| 2022 | 61.4 | 54.7 |
| 2023 | 57.1 | 55.5 |
| 2024 | 51.8 | 53.8 |
Utilities
- Lake Charles, LA
- Jonesboro, AR
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Lake Charles, LA | Jonesboro, AR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 89.1 | 79.2 |
| 2009 | 73.1 | 77.1 |
| 2010 | 79.9 | 76.6 |
| 2011 | 78.3 | 76.8 |
| 2012 | 74.2 | 81.7 |
| 2013 | 79.6 | 80.7 |
| 2014 | 80.0 | 80.8 |
| 2015 | 78.1 | 85.0 |
| 2016 | 77.7 | 85.3 |
| 2017 | 77.2 | 86.3 |
| 2018 | 76.0 | 79.2 |
| 2019 | 76.8 | 78.3 |
| 2020 | 76.3 | 82.2 |
| 2021 | 80.5 | 82.8 |
| 2022 | 84.3 | 83.0 |
| 2023 | 75.6 | 80.8 |
| 2024 | 71.7 | 75.0 |
Other services
- Lake Charles, LA
- Jonesboro, AR
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Lake Charles, LA | Jonesboro, AR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.9 | 95.4 |
| 2009 | 97.3 | 93.1 |
| 2010 | 98.8 | 94.3 |
| 2011 | 100.2 | 95.6 |
| 2012 | 100.8 | 97.8 |
| 2013 | 100.3 | 98.4 |
| 2014 | 100.3 | 98.9 |
| 2015 | 100.7 | 97.6 |
| 2016 | 101.6 | 96.3 |
| 2017 | 99.7 | 94.6 |
| 2018 | 98.2 | 97.9 |
| 2019 | 97.2 | 97.2 |
| 2020 | 99.5 | 99.5 |
| 2021 | 98.8 | 97.2 |
| 2022 | 97.3 | 95.9 |
| 2023 | 95.6 | 95.7 |
| 2024 | 95.7 | 95.3 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,237 in Jonesboro vs $1,358 in Lake Charles
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Lake Charles, LA
- Jonesboro, AR
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Lake Charles, LA | Jonesboro, AR | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | – | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | – | $808 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $970 | $827 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $985 | $835 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,014 | $830 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,012 | $833 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,010 | $843 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,034 | $849 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,058 | $837 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,044 | $845 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,055 | $852 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,047 | $858 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,053 | $862 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,038 | $868 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,038 | $877 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,020 | $886 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $980 | $890 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $974 | $898 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $991 | $915 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,001 | $911 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,113 | $925 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,213 | $930 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,248 | $973 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,219 | $1,006 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,178 | $1,003 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,140 | $995 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,103 | $1,020 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,071 | $1,047 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,063 | $1,044 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,032 | $1,070 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,073 | $1,091 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,083 | $1,097 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,082 | $1,101 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,056 | $1,109 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,111 | $1,139 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,110 | $1,153 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,100 | $1,151 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,112 | $1,163 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,115 | $1,192 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,142 | $1,203 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,186 | $1,187 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,210 | $1,187 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,309 | $1,232 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,358 | $1,237 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $204,000 in Jonesboro vs $202,000 in Lake Charles
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Lake Charles, LA
- Jonesboro, AR
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Lake Charles, LA | Jonesboro, AR | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | $121K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | – | $122K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | – | $123K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | – | $124K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $203K | $125K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $203K | $126K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $203K | $127K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $206K | $128K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $206K | $128K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $206K | $129K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $210K | $131K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $212K | $133K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $212K | $134K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $214K | $135K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $215K | $136K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $217K | $137K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $217K | $139K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $217K | $142K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $218K | $143K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $219K | $144K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $219K | $145K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $220K | $148K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $224K | $152K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $225K | $156K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $220K | $158K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $218K | $163K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $216K | $170K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $214K | $177K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $215K | $181K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $220K | $185K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $221K | $187K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $216K | $189K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $210K | $189K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $208K | $194K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $204K | $194K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $199K | $194K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $197K | $196K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $198K | $196K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $193K | $195K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $190K | $195K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $192K | $195K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $196K | $194K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $197K | $195K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $197K | $198K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $200K | $203K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $201K | $203K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $202K | $204K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.