Cost of living in Lake Charles, LA
Lake Charles, LA metro area · Data updated October 2026
Lake Charles cost of living compared to the national average
What the numbers say
- Overall prices in Lake Charles, LA are 14.1% below the national average; 371 of 387 metro areas are more expensive (BEA 2024).
- Housing is the main reason prices in Lake Charles differ from the national level: housing costs (rents) are 48.2% below the US average, while goods are 6.3% below average and other services 4.3% below average.
- Zillow's typical asking rent in Lake Charles is $1,358 a month (September 2026), 29.7% less than the US figure of $1,932. Rents in Lake Charles are up 18.9% from a year earlier, compared with up 2.7% nationally.
- Utilities stand out in Lake Charles: household electricity, gas, water and sewer prices are 28.3% below the US average.
- Compared with the rest of the country, Lake Charles has become less expensive since 2019: the index went from 89.9 to 85.9, and its rank from 314th to 372nd most expensive. Housing in Lake Charles moved most, from 64.9 to 51.8.
- The metro areas with the most similar mix of costs are Houma, LA, Shreveport, LA and Alexandria, LA.
Written from this page's own figures. Price levels are for an average household basket and do not include taxes. How we calculate.
Compare Lake Charles, LA with another city
Where the money goes
BEA splits prices into four parts. Housing covers rents for renters and the rental value of owned homes; goods include food, clothing, cars and fuel; other services include health care, eating out, transport and recreation.
In Lake Charles, housing is the category furthest from the US average: 48.2% below
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
Bars to the right of the line cost more than the US average; to the left, less.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Lake Charles, LA | |
|---|---|
| All items | 85.9 |
| Goods | 93.7 |
| Housing (rents) | 51.8 |
| Utilities | 71.7 |
| Other services | 95.7 |
How prices have changed since 2008
These are price levels relative to the whole country in each year, not inflation. A line going up means Lake Charles got more expensive compared with the rest of the US.
Lake Charles has become less expensive relative to the US since 2008: 90.5 then, 85.9 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. 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 | |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 90.5 |
| 2009 | 87.4 |
| 2010 | 89.5 |
| 2011 | 90.5 |
| 2012 | 90.6 |
| 2013 | 91.2 |
| 2014 | 90.6 |
| 2015 | 91.3 |
| 2016 | 91.2 |
| 2017 | 91.8 |
| 2018 | 89.4 |
| 2019 | 89.9 |
| 2020 | 91.2 |
| 2021 | 90.6 |
| 2022 | 89.5 |
| 2023 | 87.1 |
| 2024 | 85.9 |
Goods: 96.7 in 2008, 93.7 in 2024
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Lake Charles, LA | |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 96.7 |
| 2009 | 94.3 |
| 2010 | 96.8 |
| 2011 | 96.4 |
| 2012 | 96.0 |
| 2013 | 96.5 |
| 2014 | 96.9 |
| 2015 | 95.8 |
| 2016 | 96.4 |
| 2017 | 96.2 |
| 2018 | 93.6 |
| 2019 | 95.1 |
| 2020 | 94.6 |
| 2021 | 95.2 |
| 2022 | 94.0 |
| 2023 | 93.0 |
| 2024 | 93.7 |
Housing (rents): 61.0 in 2008, 51.8 in 2024
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Lake Charles, LA | |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 61.0 |
| 2009 | 56.4 |
| 2010 | 58.2 |
| 2011 | 60.2 |
| 2012 | 61.6 |
| 2013 | 61.3 |
| 2014 | 59.5 |
| 2015 | 63.1 |
| 2016 | 59.9 |
| 2017 | 65.6 |
| 2018 | 61.7 |
| 2019 | 64.9 |
| 2020 | 68.6 |
| 2021 | 63.1 |
| 2022 | 61.4 |
| 2023 | 57.1 |
| 2024 | 51.8 |
Utilities: 89.1 in 2008, 71.7 in 2024
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Lake Charles, LA | |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 89.1 |
| 2009 | 73.1 |
| 2010 | 79.9 |
| 2011 | 78.3 |
| 2012 | 74.2 |
| 2013 | 79.6 |
| 2014 | 80.0 |
| 2015 | 78.1 |
| 2016 | 77.7 |
| 2017 | 77.2 |
| 2018 | 76.0 |
| 2019 | 76.8 |
| 2020 | 76.3 |
| 2021 | 80.5 |
| 2022 | 84.3 |
| 2023 | 75.6 |
| 2024 | 71.7 |
Other services: 97.9 in 2008, 95.7 in 2024
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Lake Charles, LA | |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.9 |
| 2009 | 97.3 |
| 2010 | 98.8 |
| 2011 | 100.2 |
| 2012 | 100.8 |
| 2013 | 100.3 |
| 2014 | 100.3 |
| 2015 | 100.7 |
| 2016 | 101.6 |
| 2017 | 99.7 |
| 2018 | 98.2 |
| 2019 | 97.2 |
| 2020 | 99.5 |
| 2021 | 98.8 |
| 2022 | 97.3 |
| 2023 | 95.6 |
| 2024 | 95.7 |
Rent and home prices
Monthly figures from Zillow, newer than BEA's yearly index. Zillow's rent index tracks asking rents for new leases, which move faster than what existing tenants pay. A typical home here costs 12.4 times a year of typical rent (US: 15.8). derived
Lake Charles rents rose slower than the US over five years: up 11.4% vs 21.5%
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month.
- Lake Charles, LA
- 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 | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 2016 | $958 | $1,203 |
| May 2016 | $963 | $1,211 |
| Jun 2016 | $970 | $1,219 |
| Jul 2016 | $961 | $1,223 |
| Aug 2016 | $984 | $1,225 |
| Sep 2016 | $985 | $1,225 |
| Oct 2016 | $996 | $1,223 |
| Nov 2016 | $999 | $1,222 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,014 | $1,222 |
| Jan 2017 | $1,029 | $1,226 |
| Feb 2017 | $1,026 | $1,233 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,012 | $1,245 |
| Apr 2017 | $1,003 | $1,254 |
| May 2017 | $1,003 | $1,263 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,010 | $1,270 |
| Jul 2017 | $1,015 | $1,275 |
| Aug 2017 | $1,030 | $1,276 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,034 | $1,276 |
| Oct 2017 | $1,045 | $1,275 |
| Nov 2017 | $1,055 | $1,274 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,058 | $1,275 |
| Jan 2018 | $1,041 | $1,280 |
| Feb 2018 | $1,034 | $1,287 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,044 | $1,296 |
| Apr 2018 | $1,057 | $1,305 |
| May 2018 | $1,062 | $1,313 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,055 | $1,320 |
| Jul 2018 | $1,051 | $1,325 |
| Aug 2018 | $1,047 | $1,328 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,047 | $1,327 |
| Oct 2018 | $1,059 | $1,327 |
| Nov 2018 | $1,052 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,053 | $1,329 |
| Jan 2019 | $1,044 | $1,333 |
| Feb 2019 | $1,044 | $1,339 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,038 | $1,349 |
| Apr 2019 | $1,030 | $1,359 |
| May 2019 | $1,030 | $1,368 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,038 | $1,376 |
| Jul 2019 | $1,047 | $1,381 |
| Aug 2019 | $1,041 | $1,384 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,020 | $1,383 |
| Oct 2019 | $997 | $1,381 |
| Nov 2019 | $980 | $1,380 |
| Dec 2019 | $980 | $1,381 |
| Jan 2020 | $983 | $1,386 |
| Feb 2020 | $983 | $1,394 |
| Mar 2020 | $974 | $1,402 |
| Apr 2020 | $968 | $1,404 |
| May 2020 | $973 | $1,404 |
| Jun 2020 | $991 | $1,406 |
| Jul 2020 | $1,003 | $1,411 |
| Aug 2020 | $1,000 | $1,412 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,001 | $1,410 |
| Oct 2020 | $982 | $1,407 |
| Nov 2020 | – | $1,405 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,113 | $1,407 |
| Jan 2021 | – | $1,415 |
| Feb 2021 | $1,193 | $1,428 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,213 | $1,443 |
| Apr 2021 | $1,235 | $1,461 |
| May 2021 | $1,246 | $1,484 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,248 | $1,512 |
| Jul 2021 | $1,244 | $1,541 |
| Aug 2021 | $1,238 | $1,568 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,219 | $1,590 |
| Oct 2021 | $1,207 | $1,604 |
| Nov 2021 | $1,191 | $1,613 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,178 | $1,622 |
| Jan 2022 | $1,172 | $1,632 |
| Feb 2022 | $1,158 | $1,647 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,140 | $1,661 |
| Apr 2022 | $1,118 | $1,681 |
| May 2022 | $1,107 | $1,700 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,103 | $1,721 |
| Jul 2022 | $1,094 | $1,737 |
| Aug 2022 | $1,084 | $1,747 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,071 | $1,748 |
| Oct 2022 | $1,060 | $1,744 |
| Nov 2022 | $1,065 | $1,738 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,063 | $1,735 |
| Jan 2023 | $1,064 | $1,737 |
| Feb 2023 | $1,037 | $1,744 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,032 | $1,757 |
| Apr 2023 | $1,035 | $1,767 |
| May 2023 | $1,063 | $1,778 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,073 | $1,785 |
| Jul 2023 | $1,080 | $1,793 |
| Aug 2023 | $1,076 | $1,797 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,083 | $1,797 |
| Oct 2023 | $1,090 | $1,793 |
| Nov 2023 | $1,088 | $1,788 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,082 | $1,786 |
| Jan 2024 | $1,066 | $1,789 |
| Feb 2024 | $1,059 | $1,797 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,056 | $1,807 |
| Apr 2024 | $1,073 | $1,817 |
| May 2024 | $1,098 | $1,828 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,111 | $1,837 |
| Jul 2024 | $1,111 | $1,843 |
| Aug 2024 | $1,105 | $1,846 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,110 | $1,845 |
| Oct 2024 | $1,111 | $1,841 |
| Nov 2024 | $1,099 | $1,838 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,100 | $1,836 |
| Jan 2025 | $1,098 | $1,841 |
| Feb 2025 | $1,106 | $1,849 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,112 | $1,860 |
| Apr 2025 | $1,111 | $1,869 |
| May 2025 | $1,117 | $1,876 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,115 | $1,880 |
| Jul 2025 | $1,127 | $1,883 |
| Aug 2025 | $1,137 | $1,883 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,142 | $1,881 |
| Oct 2025 | $1,146 | $1,878 |
| Nov 2025 | $1,159 | $1,875 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,186 | $1,873 |
| Jan 2026 | $1,201 | $1,876 |
| Feb 2026 | $1,206 | $1,883 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,210 | $1,894 |
| Apr 2026 | $1,242 | $1,904 |
| May 2026 | $1,272 | $1,913 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,309 | $1,921 |
| Jul 2026 | $1,330 | $1,926 |
| Aug 2026 | $1,360 | $1,930 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,358 | $1,932 |
Lake Charles home values are 11.0% below their November 2020 peak
Typical home value, dollars.
- Lake Charles, LA
- 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 | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 2016 | $203K | $201K |
| Mar 2016 | $203K | $202K |
| Apr 2016 | $203K | $202K |
| May 2016 | $203K | $203K |
| Jun 2016 | $203K | $204K |
| Jul 2016 | $203K | $205K |
| Aug 2016 | $203K | $206K |
| Sep 2016 | $203K | $206K |
| Oct 2016 | $204K | $207K |
| Nov 2016 | $205K | $208K |
| Dec 2016 | $206K | $209K |
| Jan 2017 | $206K | $211K |
| Feb 2017 | $206K | $212K |
| Mar 2017 | $206K | $213K |
| Apr 2017 | $206K | $214K |
| May 2017 | $206K | $215K |
| Jun 2017 | $206K | $216K |
| Jul 2017 | $207K | $217K |
| Aug 2017 | $208K | $218K |
| Sep 2017 | $210K | $219K |
| Oct 2017 | $211K | $220K |
| Nov 2017 | $212K | $222K |
| Dec 2017 | $212K | $223K |
| Jan 2018 | $212K | $224K |
| Feb 2018 | $211K | $225K |
| Mar 2018 | $212K | $227K |
| Apr 2018 | $213K | $228K |
| May 2018 | $214K | $229K |
| Jun 2018 | $214K | $230K |
| Jul 2018 | $214K | $231K |
| Aug 2018 | $215K | $232K |
| Sep 2018 | $215K | $234K |
| Oct 2018 | $215K | $234K |
| Nov 2018 | $215K | $235K |
| Dec 2018 | $217K | $236K |
| Jan 2019 | $218K | $237K |
| Feb 2019 | $218K | $238K |
| Mar 2019 | $217K | $239K |
| Apr 2019 | $216K | $240K |
| May 2019 | $216K | $241K |
| Jun 2019 | $217K | $242K |
| Jul 2019 | $217K | $243K |
| Aug 2019 | $218K | $243K |
| Sep 2019 | $218K | $244K |
| Oct 2019 | $218K | $245K |
| Nov 2019 | $219K | $246K |
| Dec 2019 | $219K | $247K |
| Jan 2020 | $219K | $249K |
| Feb 2020 | $219K | $250K |
| Mar 2020 | $219K | $252K |
| Apr 2020 | $220K | $253K |
| May 2020 | $220K | $254K |
| Jun 2020 | $220K | $255K |
| Jul 2020 | $220K | $255K |
| Aug 2020 | $222K | $257K |
| Sep 2020 | $224K | $260K |
| Oct 2020 | $226K | $263K |
| Nov 2020 | $227K | $267K |
| Dec 2020 | $225K | $271K |
| Jan 2021 | $223K | $274K |
| Feb 2021 | $221K | $278K |
| Mar 2021 | $220K | $282K |
| Apr 2021 | $219K | $286K |
| May 2021 | $218K | $291K |
| Jun 2021 | $218K | $296K |
| Jul 2021 | $218K | $301K |
| Aug 2021 | $217K | $304K |
| Sep 2021 | $216K | $306K |
| Oct 2021 | $215K | $308K |
| Nov 2021 | $214K | $311K |
| Dec 2021 | $214K | $314K |
| Jan 2022 | $214K | $318K |
| Feb 2022 | $215K | $324K |
| Mar 2022 | $215K | $330K |
| Apr 2022 | $217K | $336K |
| May 2022 | $218K | $342K |
| Jun 2022 | $220K | $346K |
| Jul 2022 | $221K | $349K |
| Aug 2022 | $222K | $349K |
| Sep 2022 | $221K | $348K |
| Oct 2022 | $221K | $347K |
| Nov 2022 | $219K | $346K |
| Dec 2022 | $216K | $345K |
| Jan 2023 | $214K | $344K |
| Feb 2023 | $211K | $343K |
| Mar 2023 | $210K | $343K |
| Apr 2023 | $209K | $344K |
| May 2023 | $210K | $345K |
| Jun 2023 | $208K | $347K |
| Jul 2023 | $207K | $349K |
| Aug 2023 | $205K | $351K |
| Sep 2023 | $204K | $352K |
| Oct 2023 | $202K | $353K |
| Nov 2023 | $200K | $354K |
| Dec 2023 | $199K | $354K |
| Jan 2024 | $197K | $354K |
| Feb 2024 | $196K | $355K |
| Mar 2024 | $197K | $357K |
| Apr 2024 | $198K | $359K |
| May 2024 | $199K | $360K |
| Jun 2024 | $198K | $361K |
| Jul 2024 | $197K | $361K |
| Aug 2024 | $195K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $193K | $361K |
| Oct 2024 | $192K | $362K |
| Nov 2024 | $191K | $363K |
| Dec 2024 | $190K | $363K |
| Jan 2025 | $190K | $364K |
| Feb 2025 | $191K | $364K |
| Mar 2025 | $192K | $364K |
| Apr 2025 | $194K | $364K |
| May 2025 | $195K | $363K |
| Jun 2025 | $196K | $362K |
| Jul 2025 | $196K | $362K |
| Aug 2025 | $197K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $197K | $362K |
| Oct 2025 | $197K | $362K |
| Nov 2025 | $197K | $363K |
| Dec 2025 | $197K | $364K |
| Jan 2026 | $198K | $365K |
| Feb 2026 | $199K | $365K |
| Mar 2026 | $200K | $366K |
| Apr 2026 | $201K | $366K |
| May 2026 | $201K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $201K | $365K |
| Jul 2026 | $201K | $365K |
| Aug 2026 | $201K | $366K |
| Sep 2026 | $202K | $366K |
Gas prices
Regular gasoline averaged $3.78 a gallon in the Gulf Coast region in the week of October 19, 2026, $0.50 less than the US average of $4.28. EIA does not publish a separate weekly figure for Lake Charles, LA, so this is the regional average. official
Work out your commute's gas cost
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, weekly retail gasoline prices, regular grade, including taxes.
Childcare
Not included yet. The free official source (the U.S. Department of Labor's National Database of Childcare Prices) is published by county, with its latest year 2022 and gaps in some states. We will add it once we can show it per metro without guessing.
Where Lake Charles ranks
Among 387 metro areas, 2024. 1st is the most expensive.
| Category | Index (US = 100) | Rank | Cheaper than |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 85.9 | 372nd of 387 | 96% of metros |
| Goods | 93.7 | 355th of 387 | 92% of metros |
| Housing (rents) | 51.8 | 373rd of 387 | 96% of metros |
| Utilities | 71.7 | 374th of 387 | 97% of metros |
| Other services | 95.7 | 327th of 387 | 84% of metros |
Metro areas with a similar cost mix
Closest in all four categories at once, not just in the overall number.
| Metro area | Overall | Housing | Typical rent | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles, LA (this page) | 85.9 | 51.8 | $1,358 | |
| Houma, LA | 85.1 | 51.3 | $1,302 | Compare |
| Shreveport, LA | 84.8 | 52.3 | $1,282 | Compare |
| Alexandria, LA | 85.7 | 53.7 | $1,029 | Compare |
| Hammond, LA | 84.5 | 48.2 | $1,315 | Compare |
| Enid, OK | 84.3 | 51.4 | $1,116 | Compare |
| Fort Smith, AR | 85.9 | 53.4 | $1,074 | Compare |
Other metro areas in Louisiana
- Slidell, LA 92.7
- New Orleans, LA 92.6
- Baton Rouge, LA 90.8
- Lafayette, LA 87.2
- Alexandria, LA 85.7
- Houma, LA 85.1
- Shreveport, LA 84.8
- Hammond, LA 84.5
- Monroe, LA 83.6
Sources and limits
- Price levels: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), Regional Price Parities, 2008–2024. Last updated February 19, 2026: new statistics for 2024; revised statistics for 2008-2023. Downloaded 2026-10-21.
- Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group (Zillow Observed Rent Index and Zillow Home Value Index, metro level), through September 2026. Downloaded 2026-10-21.
- These are averages for the whole metro area and an average household's spending. Your costs depend on neighborhood, household size and habits. Taxes are not included. BEA figures lag by about 18 months.