CostIndexUSA

Lake Charles, LA vs Youngstown, 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
Youngstown
87.4
overall index
$1,025/mo rent

Lake Charles is slightly cheaper than Youngstown — 1.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Lake Charles, you would need $81,400 in Youngstown. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+3.1%
Lake Charles
51.8
Youngstown
53.4
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Lake Charles
93.7
Youngstown
93.6
🚗 Transportation+3.4%
Lake Charles
100.5
Youngstown
103.9
🏥 Healthcare+3.4%
Lake Charles
90.9
Youngstown
94
Utilities+34.3%
Lake Charles
71.7
Youngstown
96.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Youngstown, OH
$81,400
$1,400 more needed in Youngstown

Formula: salary × (87.4 ÷ 85.9) = salary × 1.0175. 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×

Youngstown, OH

Median Home Price
$163,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,025
Housing Index
53.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.3×

Youngstown has 3.1% 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

Youngstown, OH

Median Household Income
$51,400
Per Capita Income
$29,300
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
60,068
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingEducationGovernmentRetail

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)

Youngstown, OH
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.