CostIndexUSA

Lake Charles, LA vs Toledo, OH Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableLA
Lake Charles
85.9
overall index
$1,150/mo rent
OH
Toledo
91.5
overall index
$1,150/mo rent

Lake Charles is moderately cheaper than Toledo — 6.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Lake Charles, you would need $85,200 in Toledo. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+29.9%
Lake Charles
51.8
Toledo
67.3
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Lake Charles
93.7
Toledo
93.6
🚗 Transportation+3.4%
Lake Charles
100.5
Toledo
103.9
🏥 Healthcare+3.4%
Lake Charles
90.9
Toledo
94
Utilities+34.3%
Lake Charles
71.7
Toledo
96.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Toledo, OH
$85,200
$5,200 more needed in Toledo

Formula: salary × (91.5 ÷ 85.9) = salary × 1.0652. 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×

Toledo, OH

Median Home Price
$190,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,150
Housing Index
67.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.8×

Toledo has 29.9% 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

Toledo, OH

Median Household Income
$63,100
Per Capita Income
$36,000
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
270,871
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareGovernmentRetailEducation

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)

Toledo, OH
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

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.