Cost of Living
Costs of living comparisons are based on local prices of consumer goods and services. The farther below 100 a number is, the more the cost is below average. The farther above 100 a number is, the more the cost is above average.
The chart below shows the cost of living for various urban areas compared to the Lake Charles MSA.
Annual Average 2024
Metro Area | 100% Composite Index | 13.40% Grocery Items |
29.34% Housing |
8.94% Utilities | 9.22% Transportation | 4.26% Health Care | 34.84% Misc. Goods and Services |
Lake Charles | 86.3 | 95.6 | 65.3 | 68 | 102 | 98.7 | 98.1 |
Lafayette, LA | 87.2 | 97 | 64.5 | 84.2 | 97.6 | 80.9 | 100.6 |
Baton Rouge, LA | 92.8 | 97.3 | 84.6 | 69.6 | 88.8 | 91.4 | 104.5 |
New Orleans, LA | 112.4 | 99.1 | 148.6 | 71.7 | 95.4 | 102.9 | 104.1 |
Shreveport, LA | 95.7 | 97.1 | 84.6 | 100.4 | 97.5 | 101.9 | 101.7 |
Monroe, LA | 88.3 | 95.9 | 75.3 | 72.6 | 87 | 92.7 | 99.3 |
Houston, TX | 94.2 | 99.3 | 79.2 | 92.6 | 93.8 | 97.8 | 104.2 |
Beaumont, TX | 91.8 | 97.2 | 79.4 | 103.5 | 92.2 | 105.6 | 94.7 |
Corpus Christi, TX | 89.2 | 94.3 | 79.4 | 108.1 | 94.2 | 85.6 | 86.3 |
Hattiesburg, MS | 89.4 | 97.6 | 78.3 | 113.7 | 93.4 | 90.8 | 88.6 |
Montgomery, AL | 88.8 | 99 | 74.7 | 114.9 | 90.6 | 78 | 90.4 |
Little Rock, AR | 93.4 | 97.3 | 77.6 | 84.3 | 94.3 | 84.8 | 107.9 |
Fayetteville, AR | 94 | 94.5 | 85.4 | 99.8 | 93.1 | 90.2 | 100.1 |
Tallahassee, FL | 93 | 99.4 | 84.6 | 83.9 | 97 | 111.5 | 95.8 |
Daytona Beach, FL | 99.1 | 103.5 | 97.8 | 100.5 | 99.7 | 102.7 | 97.3 |
Atlanta, GA | 96 | 100.8 | 86.8 | 99.9 | 100 | 108.3 | 97.7 |
Decatur, IL | 79.1 | 95.8 | 50.9 | 106 | 95.7 | 82.5 | 83.7 |
Detroit, MI | 103.3 | 100.9 | 105.9 | 100.8 | 103.5 | 107.3 | 102.1 |
Winston-Salem, NC | 93.4 | 97 | 77.5 | 101.9 | 91.9 | 106.1 | 101.5 |
Chattanooga, TN | 88.6 | 96.5 | 83 | 86.1 | 88.2 | 87.3 | 90.6 |
This index does not measure inflation. To learn how the Cost of Living Index is calculated, visit Coli.org. For inflation data, visit The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.