Cost of living in Lake Charles

In Lake Charles, United States, a single person typically needs around $1960 per month including rent. A family of four may spend about $4556 monthly.

How expensive is Lake Charles compared to other cities?

Overall living costs in Lake Charles are 37% more expensive than the European benchmark.

How does Lake Charles compare to your city?

Lake Charles is 39% cheaper than New York City, without rent.

Rent in Lake Charles is, on average, 58% lower than in New York City.

What drives the cost of living in Lake Charles?

Who is Lake Charles a good fit for?

Lake Charles is a better match for people who prioritize lifestyle benefits and can afford the premium driven by food and rent & utilities. For most moderate-income households, housing costs are the main barrier.

FAQ

Why is Lake Charles so expensive?

The high cost of living in Lake Charles is largely influenced by elevated rent and utility expenses. These factors significantly contribute to the overall expense of residing in the city.

Is food expensive in Lake Charles?

Yes, food costs in Lake Charles are 43% higher than the European benchmark. This makes grocery shopping and dining out relatively pricey.

Is public transport affordable in Lake Charles?

Public transport in Lake Charles is considered affordable, being 41% lower than the European benchmark. This makes it a viable option for residents looking to save on transportation costs.

Cost of living breakdown

Cost of Living, one person, including rent
1960 $
Without Rent
868 $
Rent & Utilities
1092 $
Food
683 $
Transport
44 $
Monthly Salary, after tax
4262 $
GDP per Capita
81,695 $
Freedom Index
8.39
Lifespan
77 years
Speak English
96%
Population
84.9K

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Restaurants

Lunch menu, inexpensive restaurant 26.2 $
Dinner 90.1 $
Fast food, McDonalds or KFC 10 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 6.03 $
Capuccino 4.43 $
Coke, 330ml 1.64 $

Compare Lake Charles with:

Markets

Milk, 1 L or 1 qt 1.26 $
Bread, 0.5 kg or 1 lb 3.82 $
Rice, 1 kg or 2 lb 6.12 $
Eggs, 12 pack 3.47 $
Cheese, 1 kg or 2 lb 16.1 $
Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2 lb 13.4 $
Round Steak, 1 kg or 2 lb 15.6 $
Apples, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.37 $
Banana, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.31 $
Oranges, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.97 $
Tomato, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.81 $
Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 3.23 $
Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 2.18 $
Water, 1 L or 1 qt 1.67 $
Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz 2.41 $
Wine, 750 mL bottle 16.9 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 2.03 $
Cigarette pack 8.49 $

Transportation

One-way Ticket 1.48 $
Monthly Pass 39.5 $
Gas or Petrol, 1l or 0.26 gal 0.82 $
Taxi, 8 km 15.6 $

Personal Care

Doctor Visit, private clinic 115 $
Cold medicine, for 1 week 9.4 $
Hair Shampoo, 400 ml or 12 oz. 6.36 $
Toilet paper, 4 rolls 4.08 $
Toothpaste, 1 tube 2.02 $

Utilities per Month

1 person, electricity, heating, water & garbage 122 $
Family of 4, electricity, heating, water & garbage 189 $
Internet plan, +60 Mbps 60.4 $

Rent per Month

1 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 40 sq.m 901 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 85 sq.m 1,404 $
1 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 40 sq.m 945 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 85 sq.m 1,589 $

Buy Apartment Price

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment, in city center 1,358 $
Price per Square Meter to Buy House, in suburbs 1,366 $

Salaries and Financing

Average Monthly Net Salary, after tax 4,262 $
Mortgage Interest Rate, for 20 years fixed-rate 6.65%

Sports and Leisure

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 32.2 $
Cinema, 1 seat 11.4 $
Haircut 16.1 $

Clothing and Shoes

Brand Sneakers, mid-range, Nike or similar 79.2 $
Brand Jeans, Levis 501 47.5 $

Childcare

Preschool, full day, monthly for 1 child 1,572 $
International Primary School, yearly for 1 child 10,253 $

Compare Lake Charles with other top cities

Cayman Islands
Lake Charles vs George Town (George Town is 86% more expensive)
Bahamas
Lake Charles vs Nassau (Nassau is 41% more expensive) Lake Charles vs Freeport (Freeport is 12% more expensive)
Vanuatu
Lake Charles vs Port Vila (Port Vila is 20% more expensive) Lake Charles vs Luganville (Luganville is 56% more expensive)
United States
Lake Charles vs New York City (New York City is 107% more expensive) Lake Charles vs Los Angeles (Los Angeles is 63% more expensive) Lake Charles vs Chicago (Chicago is 36% more expensive) Lake Charles vs Houston (Houston is 15% more expensive) Lake Charles vs Phoenix (Phoenix is 21% more expensive) Lake Charles vs Philadelphia (Philadelphia is 30% more expensive) Lake Charles vs San Antonio (San Antonio is 12% more expensive) Lake Charles vs San Diego (San Diego is 71% more expensive) Lake Charles vs Dallas (Dallas is 30% more expensive) Lake Charles vs San Jose (San Jose is 87% more expensive)
Canada
Lake Charles vs Toronto (Toronto is 31% more expensive) Lake Charles vs Montreal (Montreal is 0% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Calgary (Calgary is 10% more expensive) Lake Charles vs Ottawa (Ottawa is 14% more expensive) Lake Charles vs Edmonton (Edmonton is 9% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Winnipeg (Winnipeg is 11% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Mississauga (Mississauga is 26% more expensive) Lake Charles vs Vancouver (Vancouver is 35% more expensive) Lake Charles vs Brampton (Brampton is 9% more expensive) Lake Charles vs Hamilton (Hamilton is 10% more expensive)
Barbados
Lake Charles vs Bridgetown (Bridgetown is 31% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Holetown (Holetown is 29% less expensive)
Panama
Lake Charles vs Panama City (Panama City is 29% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Colon (Colon is 40% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Tocumen (Tocumen is 37% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Santiago de Veraguas (Santiago de Veraguas is 46% less expensive) Lake Charles vs David (David is 58% less expensive) Lake Charles vs La Chorrera (La Chorrera is 51% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Balboa (Balboa is 36% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Pacora (Pacora is 36% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Chitre (Chitre is 44% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Penonome (Penonome is 44% less expensive)
Saint Kitts And Nevis
Lake Charles vs Basseterre (Basseterre is 37% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Cayon (Cayon is 37% less expensive)
Cuba
Lake Charles vs Havana (Havana is 48% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Santiago de Cuba (Santiago de Cuba is 28% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Holguin (Holguin is 35% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Camaguey (Camaguey is 22% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Santa Clara (Santa Clara is 46% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Bayamo (Bayamo is 41% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Guantanamo (Guantanamo is 21% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Las Tunas (Las Tunas is 21% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Pinar del Rio (Pinar del Rio is 44% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Cienfuegos (Cienfuegos is 55% less expensive)
Costa Rica
Lake Charles vs San Jose (San Jose is 37% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Limon (Limon is 39% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Liberia (Liberia is 54% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Alajuela (Alajuela is 37% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Puntarenas (Puntarenas is 35% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Cartago (Cartago is 51% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Heredia (Heredia is 36% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Tamarindo (Tamarindo is 14% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Santa Teresa (Santa Teresa is 33% less expensive)
Saint Lucia
Lake Charles vs Castries (Castries is 41% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Vieux Fort (Vieux Fort is 39% less expensive)
Jamaica
Lake Charles vs Kingston (Kingston is 32% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Spanish Town (Spanish Town is 60% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Montego Bay (Montego Bay is 48% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Half Way Tree (Half Way Tree is 41% less expensive) Lake Charles vs May Pen (May Pen is 58% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Mandeville (Mandeville is 50% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Old Harbour (Old Harbour is 57% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Linstead (Linstead is 47% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Savanna-la-Mar (Savanna-la-Mar is 43% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Port Antonio (Port Antonio is 42% less expensive)
El Salvador
Lake Charles vs San Salvador (San Salvador is 39% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Santa Ana (Santa Ana is 64% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Soyapango (Soyapango is 40% less expensive) Lake Charles vs San Miguel (San Miguel is 45% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Mejicanos (Mejicanos is 41% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Apopa (Apopa is 42% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Santa Tecla (Santa Tecla is 39% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Ahuachapan (Ahuachapan is 26% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Usulutan (Usulutan is 44% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Sonsonate (Sonsonate is 55% less expensive)
Antigua And Barbuda
Lake Charles vs St. John's (St. John's is 45% less expensive) Lake Charles vs All Saints (All Saints is 45% less expensive)
Grenada
Lake Charles vs St. George's (St. George's is 46% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Grenville (Grenville is 46% less expensive)
Dominica
Lake Charles vs Roseau (Roseau is 49% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Portsmouth (Portsmouth is 42% less expensive)
Saint Vincent
Lake Charles vs Kingstown (Kingstown is 50% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Georgetown (Georgetown is 49% less expensive)
Belize
Lake Charles vs Belize City (Belize City is 55% less expensive) Lake Charles vs San Ignacio (San Ignacio is 44% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Belmopan (Belmopan is 63% less expensive) Lake Charles vs San Pedro Town (San Pedro Town is 32% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Caye Caulker (Caye Caulker is 20% less expensive)
Guatemala
Lake Charles vs Guatemala City (Guatemala City is 49% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Mixco (Mixco is 67% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Coban (Coban is 53% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Quetzaltenango (Quetzaltenango is 60% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Jalapa (Jalapa is 54% less expensive) Lake Charles vs San Miguel Petapa (San Miguel Petapa is 54% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Momostenango (Momostenango is 56% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Mazatenango (Mazatenango is 56% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Flores (Flores is 56% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Panajachel (Panajachel is 60% less expensive)
Honduras
Lake Charles vs Tegucigalpa (Tegucigalpa is 58% less expensive) Lake Charles vs San Pedro Sula (San Pedro Sula is 47% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Choloma (Choloma is 69% less expensive) Lake Charles vs La Ceiba (La Ceiba is 67% less expensive) Lake Charles vs El Progreso (El Progreso is 55% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Villanueva (Villanueva is 56% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Comayagua (Comayagua is 64% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Puerto Cortes (Puerto Cortes is 63% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Yoro (Yoro is 63% less expensive) Lake Charles vs La Lima (La Lima is 56% less expensive)
Dominican Republic
Lake Charles vs Santiago de los Caballeros (Santiago de los Caballeros is 59% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo is 47% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Puerto Plata (Puerto Plata is 61% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Higuey (Higuey is 61% less expensive) Lake Charles vs La Vega (La Vega is 71% less expensive) Lake Charles vs San Cristobal (San Cristobal is 58% less expensive) Lake Charles vs San Pedro de Macoris (San Pedro de Macoris is 63% less expensive) Lake Charles vs San Francisco de Macoris (San Francisco de Macoris is 73% less expensive) Lake Charles vs San Juan de la Maguana (San Juan de la Maguana is 68% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Bonao (Bonao is 72% less expensive)
Nicaragua
Lake Charles vs Managua (Managua is 61% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Leon (Leon is 67% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Masaya (Masaya is 64% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Matagalpa (Matagalpa is 72% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Chinandega (Chinandega is 67% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Esteli (Esteli is 70% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Granada (Granada is 64% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Jinotega (Jinotega is 77% less expensive) Lake Charles vs Juigalpa (Juigalpa is 66% less expensive) Lake Charles vs San Juan del Sur (San Juan del Sur is 55% less expensive)