Cost of Living in Lake Charles, LA
| Cost of Living in Lake Charles, LA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 31% lower | 30% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 11% lower | 28% lower |
| Food | 2% lower | 4% lower |
| Healthcare | - | 0% |
| Transportation | 5% higher | 0% |
| Goods & Services | 3% higher | 3% lower |
The cost of living in Lake Charles, LA is 9% lower than the state average and 13% lower than the national average. Lake Charles, LA housing is 30% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 28% less pricey. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 4% cheaper in Lake Charles, LA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 3% less .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 0% here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 3% cheaper in Lake Charles, LA.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Lake Charles is $1,288, while home prices circle around $372,683.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Lake Charles, energy bills cost around $119.80 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $4.63 in Lake Charles, a dozen eggs go for around $4.18 and a pound of potatoes circles around $5.25.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Lake Charles, an optometry check-up costs around $162.87, while a dentist appointment is priced $133.48 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $2.91 in Lake Charles, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $71.96.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $35.12 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $33.95.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Lake Charles, you should budget around $13.38 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $27.39, while dry cleaning costs about $16.03.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Lake Charles, the median household income is $59,235.