Lake Charles, Louisiana
Living in Lake Charles, Louisiana is about 10% cheaper than the national average, with a cost of living index of 90 (US = 100). Typical rent is $1,358 a month, 30% below the national figure of $1,932, and regular gas costs $3.55 a gallon versus $3.98 nationally as of November 11, 2026. Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance take about 49% of the area's $57,852 median household income.
Key Numbers
Gas (Regular)
$3.55
National: $3.98
Avg Rent (All)
$1,358
National: $1,932
Grocery Inflation
1.77%
Year-over-year
Fast Food Avg
$12.99
Combo meal
Electricity
12.87¢
per kWh · ~$116/mo
Car Insurance
$240/mo
$2,883/yr
Median Household Income
$57,852
48.8% goes to essentials
Car Insurance
Avg $2,883 in Lake Charles. Compare rates:
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Avg rent $1,358/mo in Lake Charles. Browse listings:
Grocery Prices
Grocery Prices — 2000 to Present
National BLS averages · submit local prices below ↓
Eggs (dozen)
Bird flu volatility
$0.97 in 2000 → $2.32 BLS avg
$1.99 @ Kroger - Country Club (Nov 2026)
Milk (gallon)
$2.79 in 2000 → $4.10 BLS avg
$4.19 @ Kroger - Country Club (Nov 2026)
Ground Beef (lb)
$1.48 in 2000 → $6.75 BLS avg
$6.60 @ Kroger - Country Club (Nov 2026)
Bread (loaf)
$0.91 in 2000 → $1.86 BLS avg
$4.29 @ Kroger - Country Club (Nov 2026)
Chicken Breast (lb)
$1.06 in 2000 → $2.03 BLS avg
$4.44 @ Kroger - Country Club (Nov 2026)
Butter (lb)
$3.98 BLS avg
$5.29 @ Kroger - Country Club (Nov 2026)
Bacon (lb)
$2.75 in 2000 → $6.69 BLS avg
$5.32 @ Kroger - Country Club (Nov 2026)
Cheddar Cheese (lb)
$3.84 in 2000 → $6.13 BLS avg
$4.00 @ Kroger - Country Club (Nov 2026)
Pasta (lb)
$0.88 in 2000 → $1.38 BLS avg
$1.67 @ Kroger - Country Club (Nov 2026)
Rice (5 lb)
$2.50 in 2000 → $5.50 BLS avg
$4.72 @ Kroger - Country Club (Nov 2026)
Coffee (12 oz)
$2.65 in 2000 → $6.94 BLS avg
$8.79 @ Kroger - Country Club (Nov 2026)
Orange Juice (64 oz)
Citrus shortage
$5.42 estimate
Potatoes (5 lb)
$1.96 in 2000 → $4.95 BLS avg
$2.99 @ Kroger - Country Club (Nov 2026)
Apples (3 lb)
$5.20 estimate
$4.49 @ Kroger - Country Club (Nov 2026)
Tomatoes (lb)
$1.44 in 2000 → $2.08 BLS avg
$0.99 @ Kroger - Country Club (Nov 2026)
Lettuce (head)
$0.75 in 2000 → $1.96 BLS avg
Cooking Oil (48 oz)
$7.76 estimate
$3.59 @ Kroger - Country Club (Nov 2026)
Yogurt (32 oz)
$4.94 estimate
$6.79 @ Kroger - Country Club (Nov 2026)
Cereal (family size)
$6.20 estimate
$5.00 @ Kroger - Country Club (Nov 2026)
Frozen Pizza
$8.65 estimate
$4.99 @ Kroger - Country Club (Nov 2026)
| Item | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2022 | 2026 | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs (dozen)Bird flu volatility$1.99 @ Kroger - Country Club (Nov 2026) | $0.97 | $1.21 | $1.79 | $2.11 | $1.46 | $1.93 | $2.32 | +137.9% |
| Milk (gallon)$4.19 @ Kroger - Country Club (Nov 2026) | $2.79 | $3.30 | $3.24 | $3.76 | $3.25 | $3.79 | $4.10 | +47.3% |
| Ground Beef (lb)$6.60 @ Kroger - Country Club (Nov 2026) | $1.48 | $2.19 | $2.28 | $4.24 | $3.89 | $4.55 | $6.75 | +355.5% |
| Bread (loaf)$4.29 @ Kroger - Country Club (Nov 2026) | $0.91 | $1.00 | $1.36 | $1.48 | $1.35 | $1.55 | $1.86 | +105.2% |
| Chicken Breast (lb)$4.44 @ Kroger - Country Club (Nov 2026) | $1.06 | $1.03 | $1.26 | $1.55 | $1.41 | $1.62 | $2.03 | +91.3% |
| Butter (lb)$5.29 @ Kroger - Country Club (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | $3.86 | $3.67 | $3.98 | -4.2% since 2018 |
| Bacon (lb)$5.32 @ Kroger - Country Club (Nov 2026) | $2.75 | $3.37 | $3.63 | $5.59 | $5.50 | $7.22 | $6.69 | +143.1% |
| Cheddar Cheese (lb)$4.00 @ Kroger - Country Club (Nov 2026) | $3.84 | $4.21 | $4.72 | $5.40 | $5.20 | $5.32 | $6.13 | +59.6% |
| Pasta (lb)$1.67 @ Kroger - Country Club (Nov 2026) | $0.88 | $0.94 | $1.15 | $1.26 | $1.23 | $1.12 | $1.38 | +57.1% |
| Rice (5 lb)$4.72 @ Kroger - Country Club (Nov 2026) | $2.50 | $2.98 | $3.77 | $3.46 | $3.58 | $4.16 | $5.50 | +120.6% |
| Coffee (12 oz)$8.79 @ Kroger - Country Club (Nov 2026) | $2.65 | $2.29 | $2.86 | $3.55 | $3.13 | $3.85 | $6.94 | +161.3% |
| Orange Juice (64 oz)Citrus shortageLocal estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $3.72 | $5.42 | +45.7% since 2022 |
| Potatoes (5 lb)$2.99 @ Kroger - Country Club (Nov 2026) | $1.96 | $2.29 | $2.81 | $3.34 | $4.01 | $3.96 | $4.95 | +152.6% |
| Apples (3 lb)Local estimate$4.49 @ Kroger - Country Club (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $4.49 | $5.20 | +15.8% since 2022 |
| Tomatoes (lb)$0.99 @ Kroger - Country Club (Nov 2026) | $1.44 | $1.66 | $1.84 | $2.09 | $2.22 | $1.89 | $2.08 | +44.4% |
| Lettuce (head) | $0.75 | $0.82 | $0.90 | $1.17 | $1.34 | — | $1.96 | +162.3% |
| Cooking Oil (48 oz)Local estimate$3.59 @ Kroger - Country Club (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $5.54 | $7.76 | +40.1% since 2022 |
| Yogurt (32 oz)Local estimate$6.79 @ Kroger - Country Club (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $4.15 | $4.94 | +19.0% since 2022 |
| Cereal (family size)Local estimate$5.00 @ Kroger - Country Club (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $4.79 | $6.20 | +29.4% since 2022 |
| Frozen PizzaLocal estimate$4.99 @ Kroger - Country Club (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $6.31 | $8.65 | +37.1% since 2022 |
Dining & Restaurants
Fast Food Meal
$12.99
Casual Dining
$24.18
Monthly Spend
$431.46
+5.41% YoYChain Restaurant Meal Prices — 2022 vs. Today
Combo meal / typical order for one
McDonald's
2022: $8.36
$13.49
+61.4%Wendy's
2022: $9.44
$14.57
+54.3%Chipotle
2022: $10.12
$15.11
+49.3%Starbucks
2022: $4.58
$6.36
+38.9%Eating out more? Save on groceries with Ibotta and cook at home more often.
Looking for an Apartment in Lake Charles?
Average 1BR: $1,114/mo · 2BR: $1,602/mo
Lake Charles Cost of Living FAQ
Is Lake Charles, LA expensive to live in?
Lake Charles has a cost of living index of 90, where 100 is the US average, so it is about 10% cheaper than average. It is the 4th most affordable of the 10 Louisiana cities we track.
What is the average rent in Lake Charles, LA?
Typical rent in Lake Charles is $1,358 a month for all home types as of September 2026, 30% below the national figure of $1,932. One bedroom units average about $1,114 and two bedrooms about $1,602. Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index for the metro area.
Is rent going up in Lake Charles?
Rent in Lake Charles rose 18.9% over the past year, faster than the 2.7% change nationally.
How much is gas in Lake Charles?
Regular unleaded costs about $3.55 a gallon in Lake Charles as of November 11, 2026, based on the AAA average for Louisiana. That is 11% below the national average of $3.98.
How much is electricity in Lake Charles?
Homes in Louisiana pay an average of 12.9 cents per kWh (EIA), versus 18.4 cents nationally. At 900 kWh a month, a typical bill in Lake Charles is about $116.
How much is car insurance in Lake Charles?
Full coverage car insurance averages $2,883 a year in Louisiana, or about $240 a month (Bankrate and NAIC state average), compared with $2,150 a year nationally.
How much do you need to live in Lake Charles?
Median household income in the Lake Charles area is $57,852 (Census ACS 2023, county level). Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance add up to about $28,203 a year, or 49% of that income. Groceries are counted at $5,502 a year, the average household spend on food at home in the region (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey).
How does Lake Charles compare with the rest of Louisiana?
Rent in Lake Charles is 7% above the $1,265 average across the 10 Louisiana cities we track, and its cost of living index of 90 compares with a state average of 90.
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