CostIndexUSA

Lake Charles, LA vs Shreveport, 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
Shreveport
84.8
overall index
$1,250/mo rent

Shreveport is slightly cheaper than Lake Charles — 1.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Lake Charles, you would need $79,000 in Shreveport. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+1.0%
Lake Charles
51.8
Shreveport
52.3
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Lake Charles
93.7
Shreveport
93.7
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Lake Charles
100.5
Shreveport
100.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Lake Charles
90.9
Shreveport
90.9
⚡ Utilities+1.3%
Lake Charles
71.7
Shreveport
72.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Shreveport, LA
$79,000
$1,000 less needed in Shreveport

Formula: salary × (84.8 ÷ 85.9) = salary × 0.9872. 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×

Shreveport, LA

Median Home Price
$171,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,250
Housing Index
52.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.4×

Shreveport has 1.0% 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

Shreveport, LA

Median Household Income
$54,900
Per Capita Income
$31,300
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
187,593
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareGovernmentManufacturingMilitary

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)

Shreveport, LA
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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

Shreveport vs other cities

Shreveport, LA
vs
Baton Rouge, LA
Index: 84.8Index: 90.8
Shreveport, LA
vs
Lafayette, LA
Index: 84.8Index: 87.2
Shreveport, LA
vs
Monroe, LA
Index: 84.8Index: 83.6
Shreveport, LA
vs
Mobile, AL
Index: 84.8Index: 88.1
Shreveport, LA
vs
Newport News, VA
Index: 84.8Index: 97.9

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.