CostIndexUSA

Lake Charles, LA vs Monroe, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

LA
Lake Charles
85.9
overall index
$1,150/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Monroe
83.6
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

Monroe is slightly cheaper than Lake Charles — 2.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Lake Charles, you would need $77,900 in Monroe. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−17.4%
Lake Charles
51.8
Monroe
42.8
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Lake Charles
93.7
Monroe
93.7
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Lake Charles
100.5
Monroe
100.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Lake Charles
90.9
Monroe
90.9
⚡ Utilities+0.7%
Lake Charles
71.7
Monroe
72.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Monroe, LA
$77,900
$2,100 less needed in Monroe

Formula: salary × (83.6 ÷ 85.9) = salary × 0.9732. 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×

Monroe, LA

Median Home Price
$157,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
42.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.9×

Lake Charles has 17.4% lower housing costs compared to Monroe.

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

Monroe, LA

Median Household Income
$50,300
Per Capita Income
$28,700
Unemployment Rate
7.3%
Population
47,252
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingGovernmentRetail

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)

Monroe, LA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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
New Orleans, LA
Index: 85.9Index: 92.6
Lake Charles, LA
vs
Appleton, WI
Index: 85.9Index: 92.4
Lake Charles, LA
vs
Jonesboro, AR
Index: 85.9Index: 85.9

Monroe vs other cities

Monroe, LA
vs
Baton Rouge, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 90.8
Monroe, LA
vs
Lafayette, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 87.2
Monroe, LA
vs
New Orleans, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 92.6
Monroe, LA
vs
Charleston, WV
Index: 83.6Index: 88.7
Monroe, LA
vs
San Luis Obispo, CA
Index: 83.6Index: 108.6

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.