Residential comparison · 13 facts
Lake Charles, LA vs Monroe, LA
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Lake Charles needs about $81,000 in Monroe to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Monroe, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $89,000 in Lake Charles.
A few differences
- Lake Charles is higher on median household income ($59,235 vs $40,505).
- Monroe is lower on cost of living index (78 vs 83).
- Monroe is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($875/mo vs $1,126/mo).
Lake Charles vs Monroe · facet by facet
| Facet | Lake Charles, LA | Monroe, LA |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $214,300 | $198,900 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,126/mo | $875/mo |
| Property tax rate | 0.55% | 0.55% |
| State & local income tax | 3.01% | 3.01% |
| Sales tax | 9.55% | 9.55% |
| Cost of living index | 83 | 78 |
| Groceries index | 97 | 97 |
| Utilities | $165/mo | $165/mo |
| Median household income | $59,235 | $40,505 |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | 4.2% |
| Crime index | 75/100 | 75/100 |
| School rating | 4.2/10 | 4.2/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 215 days | 215 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Lake Charles, LA · Monroe, LA
Questions & answers
- Is Lake Charles cheaper than Monroe?
- Monroe has the lower day-to-day cost index (78 vs 83 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Monroe equals $85,000 in Lake Charles?
- A household earning $85,000 in Lake Charles needs about $81,000 in Monroe to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Monroe lifestyle costs about $89,000 in Lake Charles.