CostIndexUSA

Colorado Springs, CO vs Lake Charles, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Colorado Springs
100.7
overall index
$1,675/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Lake Charles
85.9
overall index
$1,150/mo rent

Lake Charles is moderately cheaper than Colorado Springs — 14.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Colorado Springs, you would need $68,200 in Lake Charles. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−55.4%
Colorado Springs
116.2
Lake Charles
51.8
🛒 Groceries−2.5%
Colorado Springs
96.1
Lake Charles
93.7
🚗 Transportation−4.1%
Colorado Springs
104.8
Lake Charles
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−4.1%
Colorado Springs
94.8
Lake Charles
90.9
⚡ Utilities−13.8%
Colorado Springs
83.2
Lake Charles
71.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Lake Charles, LA
$68,200
$11,800 less needed in Lake Charles

Formula: salary × (85.9 ÷ 100.7) = salary × 0.8530. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Colorado Springs, CO

Median Home Price
$448,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,675
Housing Index
116.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.3×

Lake Charles, LA

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

Colorado Springs has 55.4% lower housing costs compared to Lake Charles.

Income & Job Market

Colorado Springs, CO

Median Household Income
$89,800
Per Capita Income
$51,200
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
478,961
Top Industries
MilitaryAerospaceTechnologyHealthcareTourism

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).

Colorado Springs, CO
4.5×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

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

79% of income left after rent (median)

Colorado Springs vs other cities

Colorado Springs, CO
vs
Aurora, CO
Index: 100.7Index: 105.8
Colorado Springs, CO
vs
Boulder, CO
Index: 100.7Index: 105.2
Colorado Springs, CO
vs
Denver, CO
Index: 100.7Index: 105.8
Colorado Springs, CO
vs
Omaha, NE
Index: 100.7Index: 91.9
Colorado Springs, CO
vs
Raleigh, NC
Index: 100.7Index: 98.2

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.