CostIndexUSA

Lake Charles, LA vs Twin Falls, ID Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableLA
Lake Charles
85.9
overall index
$1,150/mo rent
ID
Twin Falls
92.1
overall index
$1,675/mo rent

Lake Charles is moderately cheaper than Twin Falls — 7.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Lake Charles, you would need $85,800 in Twin Falls. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+42.5%
Lake Charles
51.8
Twin Falls
73.8
🛒 Groceries+2.7%
Lake Charles
93.7
Twin Falls
96.2
🚗 Transportation+3.4%
Lake Charles
100.5
Twin Falls
103.9
🏥 Healthcare+3.4%
Lake Charles
90.9
Twin Falls
94
Utilities2.4%
Lake Charles
71.7
Twin Falls
70

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Twin Falls, ID
$85,800
$5,800 more needed in Twin Falls

Formula: salary × (92.1 ÷ 85.9) = salary × 1.0722. 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×

Twin Falls, ID

Median Home Price
$371,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,675
Housing Index
73.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.5×

Twin Falls has 42.5% 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

Twin Falls, ID

Median Household Income
$66,100
Per Capita Income
$37,700
Unemployment Rate
2.5%
Population
50,085
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareManufacturingRetailGovernment

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)

Twin Falls, ID
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

70% 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.