CostIndexUSA

Lake Charles, LA vs Las Cruces, NM Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableLA
Lake Charles
85.9
overall index
$1,150/mo rent
NM
Las Cruces
90.2
overall index
$1,375/mo rent

Lake Charles is moderately cheaper than Las Cruces — 5.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Lake Charles, you would need $84,000 in Las Cruces. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+21.6%
Lake Charles
51.8
Las Cruces
63
🛒 Groceries+2.6%
Lake Charles
93.7
Las Cruces
96.1
🚗 Transportation+3.0%
Lake Charles
100.5
Las Cruces
103.5
🏥 Healthcare+3.0%
Lake Charles
90.9
Las Cruces
93.6
⚡ Utilities+8.6%
Lake Charles
71.7
Las Cruces
77.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Las Cruces, NM
$84,000
$4,000 more needed in Las Cruces

Formula: salary × (90.2 ÷ 85.9) = salary × 1.0501. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Lake Charles, LA

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

Las Cruces, NM

Median Home Price
$282,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,375
Housing Index
63
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.1×

Las Cruces has 21.6% higher housing costs compared to Lake Charles.

Income & Job Market

Lake Charles, LA

Median Household Income
$65,100
Per Capita Income
$37,100
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
77,403
Top Industries
EnergyPetrochemicalsHealthcareGamingManufacturing

Las Cruces, NM

Median Household Income
$56,500
Per Capita Income
$32,200
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
111,385
Top Industries
EducationGovernmentHealthcareMilitaryRetail

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

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

79% of income left after rent (median)

Las Cruces, NM
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

71% of income left after rent (median)

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

Las Cruces vs other cities

Las Cruces, NM
vs
Albuquerque, NM
Index: 90.2Index: 95.5
Las Cruces, NM
vs
Santa Fe, NM
Index: 90.2Index: 98.8
Las Cruces, NM
vs
Pueblo, CO
Index: 90.2Index: 91.8
Las Cruces, NM
vs
Lansing, MI
Index: 90.2Index: 95
Las Cruces, NM
vs
Peoria, IL
Index: 90.2Index: 91.2

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.