CostIndexUSA

Dayton, OH vs Lake Charles, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

OH
Dayton
92.7
overall index
$1,300/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Lake Charles
85.9
overall index
$1,150/mo rent

Lake Charles is moderately cheaper than Dayton — 7.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Dayton, you would need $74,100 in Lake Charles. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−28.7%
Dayton
72.7
Lake Charles
51.8
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Dayton
93.6
Lake Charles
93.7
🚗 Transportation−3.3%
Dayton
103.9
Lake Charles
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−3.3%
Dayton
94
Lake Charles
90.9
⚡ Utilities−24.8%
Dayton
95.4
Lake Charles
71.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Lake Charles, LA
$74,100
$5,900 less needed in Lake Charles

Formula: salary × (85.9 ÷ 92.7) = salary × 0.9266. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Dayton, OH

Median Home Price
$360,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
72.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
23.1×

Lake Charles, LA

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

Dayton has 28.7% lower housing costs compared to Lake Charles.

Income & Job Market

Dayton, OH

Median Household Income
$67,100
Per Capita Income
$38,200
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
137,630
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareMilitaryEducationGovernment

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).

Dayton, OH
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

77% of income left after rent (median)

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

79% of income left after rent (median)

Dayton vs other cities

Dayton, OH
vs
Akron, OH
Index: 92.7Index: 93.4
Dayton, OH
vs
Cincinnati, OH
Index: 92.7Index: 95.4
Dayton, OH
vs
Cleveland, OH
Index: 92.7Index: 93.9
Dayton, OH
vs
Waco, TX
Index: 92.7Index: 92.6
Dayton, OH
vs
Columbia, SC
Index: 92.7Index: 93.7

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.