Are you considering a move to Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States, and wondering about the cost of living? Lake Charles, Louisiana is a diverse city with a lot to offer, but like any city, it comes with its own set of expenses. In this page, we'll break down the cost of living in Lake Charles, Louisiana and help you understand whether $2675 per month is moderately priced, given the average monthly salary of $4250.0.
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Restaurants |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
17.0 $ |
|
|
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
60.0 $ |
|
|
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
10.0 $ |
|
|
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
5.0 $ |
|
|
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
6.0 $ |
|
|
Cappuccino (regular) |
2.67 $ |
|
|
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
1.82 $ |
|
|
Water (12 oz small bottle) |
2.38 $ |
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|
Markets |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
1.17 $ |
|
|
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
4.12 $ |
|
|
Rice (white), (1 lb) |
4.96 $ |
|
|
Eggs (regular) (12) |
3.25 $ |
|
|
Local Cheese (1 lb) |
13.6 $ |
|
|
Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
12.49 $ |
|
|
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
15.98 $ |
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
3.8 $ |
|
|
Banana (1 lb) |
1.3 $ |
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
1.96 $ |
|
|
Tomato (1 lb) |
3.08 $ |
|
|
Potato (1 lb) |
2.15 $ |
|
|
Onion (1 lb) |
2.18 $ |
|
|
Lettuce (1 head) |
2.98 $ |
|
|
Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
1.25 $ |
|
|
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
12.5 $ |
|
|
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
1.9 $ |
|
|
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
1.83 $ |
|
|
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
7.75 $ |
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|
Transportation |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
0.99 $ |
|
|
Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
-- |
|
|
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
4.0 $ |
|
|
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
1.37 $ |
|
|
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
-- |
|
|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
0.82 $ |
|
|
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
19000.0 $ |
|
|
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
24000.0 $ |
|
|
Utilities (Monthly) |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
295.95 $ |
|
|
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) |
-- |
|
|
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
65.0 $ |
|
|
Sports And Leisure |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
-- |
|
|
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
-- |
|
|
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
8.5 $ |
|
|
Childcare |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
1000.0 $ |
|
|
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
19500.0 $ |
|
|
Clothing And Shoes |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
47.5 $ |
|
|
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
35.0 $ |
|
|
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
73.33 $ |
|
|
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
90.0 $ |
|
|
Rent Per Month |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
1050.0 $ |
|
|
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
-- |
|
|
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
1600.0 $ |
|
|
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
-- |
|
|
Buy Apartment Price |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
-- |
|
|
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
-- |
|
|
Salaries And Financing |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
4250.0 $ |
|
|
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate |
6.12 % |
|
The monthly expenses for living in Lake Charles, Louisiana come to a total of approximately $2675. This includes an average monthly rent of around $1050 for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center, along with utilities costing about $328 per month. Additionally, other expenses such as groceries, transportation, dining out, and leisure activities for one person amount to approximately $787 per month.
Living in Lake Charles, Louisiana appears to be relatively budget-friendly when considering the average monthly income of $4250.0. However, to enjoy a comfortable standard of living in Lake Charles, Louisiana, you would likely need an income exceeding $4250.0.
In Lake Charles, Louisiana, the average monthly post-tax salary hovers around $4250.0, and it isn't tied to any particular skillset or qualification.
The typical monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the central area of Lake Charles, Louisiana is approximately $1050. If you're open to living in a location outside the city center, you can expect to pay around $None for such an apartment.
The expense for groceries in Lake Charles, Louisiana can fluctuate based on personal choices and shopping patterns. Typically, an individual can budget around $672 per month for groceries. Nevertheless, the actual costs may change depending on various factors, including the specific items bought, the choice of stores, and the availability of discounts or special offers.
The cost of living in United States can vary significantly depending on the particular city you have in mind. Using a nationwide average might not provide accurate information. To get a more precise understanding, it's crucial to examine the cost of living in various cities throughout United States.
Once lauded for being an extremely safe city, Lake Charles recently experienced a massive uptick in violent crimes, with a 44% increase from 2019 to 2021. Violent crimes tend to occur in places where economic opportunity is limited. With 20.4% of Lake Charles’ population living below the poverty line and 8.9% identifying as unemployed, it’s easy to see the correlation between the crime and poverty rates. With this information, we conclude that Lake Charles has a medium-to-high overall risk for visitors.
Visitors can take advantage of the city’s various bus and trolley routes to get around. Unfortunately, there’s no information online that specifically talks about safety when using these modes of transport. The largest taxi companies in Lake Charles are $10 Taxi Cab of Lake Charles, Fast Taxi, and People’s Taxi. All three of these companies have 4 or more stars, and there are no visible complaints about safety. We can, therefore, conclude that Lake Charles has a low transport and taxis risk.
According to Neighborhood Scout, Lake Charles has a theft rate of 16.98 per 1,000 people. This rate comes from a reported total of 1,441 thefts out of a population of 84,872 people. Because Lake Charles’ rate is slightly higher than the national theft rate of 13.90 per 1,000 people, we can say that Lake Charles has a medium-to-high pickpockets risk.
Located in the state of Louisiana near the Gulf of Mexico, Lake Charles is quite prone to natural disasters. Residents regularly encounter tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, and even winter storms on occasion. Hurricane Katrina, which gained international attention in 2005 for its ravaging effects on New Orleans and its surrounding communities, also badly affected Lake Charles. Thus, it appears that Lake Charles has a high natural disasters risk.
A report by Neighborhood Scout shows that Lake Charles’ robbery rate is 0.58 per 1,000 people. When you consider the fact that Lake Charles’ theft rate is higher than the national rate, it may be surprising for you to learn that the city’s robbery rate is lower than the national rate, which is 0.73 per 1,000 people. Our finding indicates that Lake Charles has a low-to-medium mugging risk.
Lake Charles hasn’t seen any terrorist attacks. However, there have been terrorist threats and hoaxes over the years. In 2014, Monte Henry Hurley pleaded guilty to a charge of terrorism hoax, and, in 2020, Donald Derouen was arrested for threatening to commit arson. But because no actual terrorist attacks have been carried out, we can conclude that Lake Charles has a low terrorism risk.
There are no exact statistics on scam crimes in Lake Charles, but authorities have issued warnings to residents about certain types of scams. These scams include phishing scams, phone scams, and contractor fraud. Since these warnings were addressed to residents specifically, it appears that visitors haven’t been a primary target. So it looks like Lake Charles has a low scams risk.
No data about women traveler safety in Lake Charles can be found on the internet, but, according to women bloggers and forum users who have visited the city, Lake Charles, with its “small-town charm,” is safe for women. Therefore, Lake Charles appears to pose very little risk for women travelers.
Because Lake Charles doesn’t have any active health-based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), its tap water is safe to drink. Our conclusion, therefore, is that Lake Charles has a low tap water risk.
If you’re traveling to Louisiana from outside the US, you’ll have to present a passport when you arrive. Unless you’re a permanent resident or someone staying in the country for more than 90 days, you most likely won’t need a visa.
As the official currency of the US, the US dollar is the only accepted currency in Lake Charles and anywhere else in the country. Fortunately, there are many places throughout Lake Charles where you can exchange your currency, including ATMs and kiosks.
Summers in Lake Charles are hot and muggy, while winters are cold and wet. Make sure you dress appropriately, or else you’ll be very, very uncomfortable. Also, be on top of the weather alerts, especially during hurricane and tornado season, since Lake Charles is known for these types of natural disasters.
If you’re flying from somewhere within the US, you’ll very likely be able to fly directly into Lake Charles Regional Airport. Tourists traveling from abroad can fly into Chennault International Airport (KCWF), the closest international airport to Lake Charles.
You must never overlook the importance of travel insurance, which is designed to help you in dire travel-related situations. These situations include lost or stolen possessions, canceled flights, and medical emergencies. Unexpected situations while traveling are inevitable, so why not avail of travel insurance and have that financial backup in case something bad happens? Plus, travel insurance gives you peace of mind, allowing you to make the most of your vacation.
| Average | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | 61°F | 65°F | 71°F | 78°F | 84°F | 89°F | 91°F | 91°F | 87°F | 80°F | 71°F | 64°F |
| Temp | 51°F | 54°F | 61°F | 68°F | 75°F | 80°F | 82°F | 82°F | 78°F | 69°F | 60°F | 53°F |
| Low | 44°F | 47°F | 53°F | 60°F | 67°F | 73°F | 75°F | 74°F | 69°F | 60°F | 52°F | 46°F |
| Average | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | 16°C | 18°C | 21°C | 25°C | 28°C | 31°C | 32°C | 32°C | 30°C | 26°C | 21°C | 17°C |
| Temp | 10°C | 12°C | 16°C | 20°C | 23°C | 26°C | 27°C | 27°C | 25°C | 20°C | 15°C | 11°C |
| Low | 6°C | 8°C | 11°C | 15°C | 19°C | 22°C | 23°C | 23°C | 20°C | 15°C | 11°C | 7°C |