Residential comparison · 13 facts
Lake Charles, LA vs New Orleans, 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 $92,500 in New Orleans to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from New Orleans, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $77,500 in Lake Charles.
A few differences
- Lake Charles is lower on property tax rate (0.55% vs 0.85%).
- New Orleans is lower on sales tax (9.45% vs 9.55%).
- Lake Charles is lower on groceries index (97 vs 100).
Lake Charles vs New Orleans · facet by facet
| Facet | Lake Charles, LA | New Orleans, LA |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $214,300 | $250,000 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,126/mo | $1,550/mo |
| Property tax rate | 0.55% | 0.85% |
| State & local income tax | 3.01% | 3.01% |
| Sales tax | 9.55% | 9.45% |
| Cost of living index | 83 | 96 |
| Groceries index | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | $165/mo | $175/mo |
| Median household income | $59,235 | $51,000 |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | 4.6% |
| Crime index | 75/100 | 65/100 |
| School rating | 4.2/10 | 4.5/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 215 days | 216 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 · New Orleans, LA
Questions & answers
- Is Lake Charles cheaper than New Orleans?
- Lake Charles has the lower day-to-day cost index (83 vs 96 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in New Orleans equals $85,000 in Lake Charles?
- A household earning $85,000 in Lake Charles needs about $92,500 in New Orleans to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of New Orleans lifestyle costs about $77,500 in Lake Charles.