CostIndexUSA

Fort Wayne, IN vs Lake Charles, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

IN
Fort Wayne
92.6
overall index
$1,150/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Lake Charles
85.9
overall index
$1,150/mo rent

Lake Charles is moderately cheaper than Fort Wayne — 7.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fort Wayne, you would need $74,200 in Lake Charles. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−28.4%
Fort Wayne
72.3
Lake Charles
51.8
🛒 Groceries−0.6%
Fort Wayne
94.3
Lake Charles
93.7
🚗 Transportation−3.5%
Fort Wayne
104.1
Lake Charles
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−3.5%
Fort Wayne
94.2
Lake Charles
90.9
⚡ Utilities−16.8%
Fort Wayne
86.2
Lake Charles
71.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Lake Charles, LA
$74,200
$5,800 less needed in Lake Charles

Formula: salary × (85.9 ÷ 92.6) = salary × 0.9276. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Fort Wayne, IN

Median Home Price
$245,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,150
Housing Index
72.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.8×

Lake Charles, LA

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

Fort Wayne has 28.4% lower housing costs compared to Lake Charles.

Income & Job Market

Fort Wayne, IN

Median Household Income
$66,300
Per Capita Income
$37,800
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
270,402
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingFinanceRetailGovernment

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 Wayne, IN
4.8×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

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

79% of income left after rent (median)

Fort Wayne vs other cities

Fort Wayne, IN
vs
Bloomington, IN
Index: 92.6Index: 95.1
Fort Wayne, IN
vs
Evansville, IN
Index: 92.6Index: 91.5
Fort Wayne, IN
vs
Indianapolis, IN
Index: 92.6Index: 95.7
Fort Wayne, IN
vs
Toledo, OH
Index: 92.6Index: 91.5
Fort Wayne, IN
vs
Madison, WI
Index: 92.6Index: 97.3

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.