CostIndexUSA

Fort Collins, CO vs Lake Charles, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Fort Collins
101.1
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Lake Charles
85.9
overall index
$1,150/mo rent

Lake Charles is significantly cheaper than Fort Collins — 15.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fort Collins, you would need $68,000 in Lake Charles. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−57.0%
Fort Collins
120.6
Lake Charles
51.8
🛒 Groceries−2.5%
Fort Collins
96.1
Lake Charles
93.7
🚗 Transportation−4.1%
Fort Collins
104.8
Lake Charles
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−4.1%
Fort Collins
94.8
Lake Charles
90.9
⚡ Utilities−12.8%
Fort Collins
82.2
Lake Charles
71.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Lake Charles, LA
$68,000
$12,000 less needed in Lake Charles

Formula: salary × (85.9 ÷ 101.1) = salary × 0.8497. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Fort Collins, CO

Median Home Price
$540,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,875
Housing Index
120.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.0×

Lake Charles, LA

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

Fort Collins has 57.0% lower housing costs compared to Lake Charles.

Income & Job Market

Fort Collins, CO

Median Household Income
$88,200
Per Capita Income
$50,300
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
164,672
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationHealthcareAgricultureManufacturing

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).

Fort Collins, CO
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

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

79% of income left after rent (median)

Fort Collins vs other cities

Fort Collins, CO
vs
Aurora, CO
Index: 101.1Index: 105.8
Fort Collins, CO
vs
Boulder, CO
Index: 101.1Index: 105.2
Fort Collins, CO
vs
Colorado Springs, CO
Index: 101.1Index: 100.7
Fort Collins, CO
vs
Salinas, CA
Index: 101.1Index: 109
Fort Collins, CO
vs
Clarksville, TN
Index: 101.1Index: 90.9

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.