CostIndexUSA

Grand Rapids, MI vs Lake Charles, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

MI
Grand Rapids
95.5
overall index
$1,650/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Lake Charles
85.9
overall index
$1,150/mo rent

Lake Charles is moderately cheaper than Grand Rapids — 10.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Grand Rapids, you would need $72,000 in Lake Charles. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−40.2%
Grand Rapids
86.6
Lake Charles
51.8
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Grand Rapids
93.7
Lake Charles
93.7
🚗 Transportation−3.8%
Grand Rapids
104.5
Lake Charles
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−3.9%
Grand Rapids
94.6
Lake Charles
90.9
⚡ Utilities−23.6%
Grand Rapids
93.8
Lake Charles
71.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Lake Charles, LA
$72,000
$8,000 less needed in Lake Charles

Formula: salary × (85.9 ÷ 95.5) = salary × 0.8995. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Grand Rapids, MI

Median Home Price
$339,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
86.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.1×

Lake Charles, LA

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

Grand Rapids has 40.2% lower housing costs compared to Lake Charles.

Income & Job Market

Grand Rapids, MI

Median Household Income
$78,000
Per Capita Income
$44,500
Unemployment Rate
3.2%
Population
198,917
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareFinanceEducationTechnology

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).

Grand Rapids, MI
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

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

79% of income left after rent (median)

Grand Rapids vs other cities

Grand Rapids, MI
vs
Ann Arbor, MI
Index: 95.5Index: 100.9
Grand Rapids, MI
vs
Detroit, MI
Index: 95.5Index: 100.3
Grand Rapids, MI
vs
Flint, MI
Index: 95.5Index: 93
Grand Rapids, MI
vs
Huntington Beach, CA
Index: 95.5Index: 113.6
Grand Rapids, MI
vs
Montgomery, AL
Index: 95.5Index: 89.7

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.