City comparison
Cost indices by category, with the US city average (100) marked.
Index: 100 = US city average. Lower is more affordable.
Side-by-side costs, salaries, and sub-category indices.
| Metric | Lake Charles | New Orleans | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,007/mo | $1,162/mo | 13.3% lower in A |
| Median home value | $191,200 | $281,500 | 32.1% lower in A |
| Median household income | $54,761 | $51,116 | 7.1% higher in A |
| Groceries index | 98.7 | 98.7 | ≈ equal |
| Utilities index | 94.8 | 94.8 | ≈ equal |
| Transportation index | 100.5 | 100.5 | ≈ equal |
| Healthcare index | 94.8 | 94.8 | ≈ equal |
How much you'd need to earn in the other city to keep the same standard of living.
If you earn $100,000 in Lake Charles, you'd need $115,387 in New Orleans to maintain your standard of living.
Climate, safety, and demographics side by side.
Lake Charles, LA is about 13.3% cheaper overall than New Orleans, LA, based on our cost-of-living index. Housing costs are roughly 13% lower in Lake Charles than in New Orleans. If you earn $80,000 in Lake Charles, you'd need about $92,309 in New Orleans to keep the same standard of living.