CostIndexUSA

Daytona Beach, FL vs Lake Charles, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

FL
Daytona Beach
99.4
overall index
$1,625/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Lake Charles
85.9
overall index
$1,150/mo rent

Lake Charles is moderately cheaper than Daytona Beach — 13.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Daytona Beach, you would need $69,100 in Lake Charles. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing52.2%
Daytona Beach
108.4
Lake Charles
51.8
🛒 Groceries2.6%
Daytona Beach
96.2
Lake Charles
93.7
🚗 Transportation3.2%
Daytona Beach
103.8
Lake Charles
100.5
🏥 Healthcare3.2%
Daytona Beach
93.9
Lake Charles
90.9
Utilities18.2%
Daytona Beach
87.6
Lake Charles
71.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lake Charles, LA
$69,100
$10,900 less needed in Lake Charles

Formula: salary × (85.9 ÷ 99.4) = salary × 0.8642. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Daytona Beach, FL

Median Home Price
$415,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,625
Housing Index
108.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.3×

Lake Charles, LA

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

Daytona Beach has 52.2% lower housing costs compared to Lake Charles.

Income & Job Market

Daytona Beach, FL

Median Household Income
$67,200
Per Capita Income
$38,300
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
71,922
Top Industries
TourismHealthcareManufacturingAutomotiveRetail

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).

Daytona Beach, FL
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)

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.