CostIndexUSA

Ann Arbor, MI vs Lake Charles, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

MI
Ann Arbor
100.9
overall index
$2,050/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Lake Charles
85.9
overall index
$1,150/mo rent

Lake Charles is moderately cheaper than Ann Arbor — 14.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Ann Arbor, you would need $68,100 in Lake Charles. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing−58.7%
Ann Arbor
125.3
Lake Charles
51.8
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Ann Arbor
93.7
Lake Charles
93.7
🚗 Transportation−3.8%
Ann Arbor
104.5
Lake Charles
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−3.9%
Ann Arbor
94.6
Lake Charles
90.9
⚡ Utilities−27.0%
Ann Arbor
98.2
Lake Charles
71.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Ann Arbor to see what you'd need to earn in Lake Charles to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
→
Equivalent salary in Lake Charles, LA
$68,100
$11,900 less needed in Lake Charles

Formula: salary × (85.9 ÷ 100.9) = salary × 0.8513. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Ann Arbor, MI

Median Home Price
$398,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,050
Housing Index
125.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.2×

Lake Charles, LA

Median Home Price
$190,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,150
Housing Index
51.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.8×

Ann Arbor has 58.7% lower housing costs compared to Lake Charles.

Income & Job Market

Ann Arbor, MI

Median Household Income
$83,800
Per Capita Income
$47,800
Unemployment Rate
3.3%
Population
123,851
Top Industries
EducationTechnologyHealthcareManufacturingResearch

Lake Charles, LA

Median Household Income
$65,100
Per Capita Income
$37,100
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
77,403
Top Industries
EnergyPetrochemicalsHealthcareGamingManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Ann Arbor, MI
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

71% of income left after rent (median)

Lake Charles, LA
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Ann Arbor vs other cities

Ann Arbor, MI
vs
Detroit, MI
Index: 100.9Index: 100.3
Ann Arbor, MI
vs
Flint, MI
Index: 100.9Index: 93
Ann Arbor, MI
vs
Grand Rapids, MI
Index: 100.9Index: 95.5
Ann Arbor, MI
vs
Abilene, TX
Index: 100.9Index: 90.4
Ann Arbor, MI
vs
Odessa, TX
Index: 100.9Index: 93.9

Lake Charles vs other cities

Lake Charles, LA
vs
Baton Rouge, LA
Index: 85.9Index: 90.8
Lake Charles, LA
vs
Lafayette, LA
Index: 85.9Index: 87.2
Lake Charles, LA
vs
Monroe, LA
Index: 85.9Index: 83.6
Lake Charles, LA
vs
Appleton, WI
Index: 85.9Index: 92.4
Lake Charles, LA
vs
Jonesboro, AR
Index: 85.9Index: 85.9

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.