CostIndexUSA

Boulder, CO vs Lake Charles, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Boulder
105.2
overall index
$2,250/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Lake Charles
85.9
overall index
$1,150/mo rent

Lake Charles is significantly cheaper than Boulder — 18.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Boulder, you would need $65,300 in Lake Charles. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−67.0%
Boulder
157
Lake Charles
51.8
🛒 Groceries−2.5%
Boulder
96.1
Lake Charles
93.7
🚗 Transportation−4.1%
Boulder
104.8
Lake Charles
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−4.1%
Boulder
94.8
Lake Charles
90.9
⚡ Utilities−13.3%
Boulder
82.7
Lake Charles
71.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Lake Charles, LA
$65,300
$14,700 less needed in Lake Charles

Formula: salary × (85.9 ÷ 105.2) = salary × 0.8165. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Boulder, CO

Median Home Price
$702,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,250
Housing Index
157
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.0×

Lake Charles, LA

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

Boulder has 67.0% lower housing costs compared to Lake Charles.

Income & Job Market

Boulder, CO

Median Household Income
$95,400
Per Capita Income
$54,400
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Population
105,112
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationResearchHealthcareOutdoor Recreation

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).

Boulder, CO
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

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

79% of income left after rent (median)

Boulder vs other cities

Boulder, CO
vs
Aurora, CO
Index: 105.2Index: 105.8
Boulder, CO
vs
Colorado Springs, CO
Index: 105.2Index: 100.7
Boulder, CO
vs
Denver, CO
Index: 105.2Index: 105.8
Boulder, CO
vs
Tyler, TX
Index: 105.2Index: 92.2
Boulder, CO
vs
Wichita Falls, TX
Index: 105.2Index: 89.5

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.