CostIndexUSA

Bend, OR vs Lake Charles, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

OR
Bend
103.6
overall index
$2,200/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Lake Charles
85.9
overall index
$1,150/mo rent

Lake Charles is significantly cheaper than Bend — 17.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bend, you would need $66,300 in Lake Charles. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−52.9%
Bend
110
Lake Charles
51.8
🛒 Groceries−11.0%
Bend
105.3
Lake Charles
93.7
🚗 Transportation−4.6%
Bend
105.3
Lake Charles
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−4.6%
Bend
95.3
Lake Charles
90.9
⚡ Utilities−31.7%
Bend
105
Lake Charles
71.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Lake Charles, LA
$66,300
$13,700 less needed in Lake Charles

Formula: salary × (85.9 ÷ 103.6) = salary × 0.8292. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Bend, OR

Median Home Price
$653,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,200
Housing Index
110
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.7×

Lake Charles, LA

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

Bend has 52.9% lower housing costs compared to Lake Charles.

Income & Job Market

Bend, OR

Median Household Income
$91,700
Per Capita Income
$52,300
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
102,059
Top Industries
TourismTechnologyHealthcareRetailConstruction

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).

Bend, OR
3.5×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)

Bend vs other cities

Bend, OR
vs
Corvallis, OR
Index: 103.6Index: 104
Bend, OR
vs
Eugene, OR
Index: 103.6Index: 101.6
Bend, OR
vs
Medford, OR
Index: 103.6Index: 101.4
Bend, OR
vs
Davenport, IA
Index: 103.6Index: 89.1
Bend, OR
vs
Chico, CA
Index: 103.6Index: 101.2

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.