Alexandria, LA vs Lake Charles, LA

Alexandria is moderately more affordable than Lake Charles, with a 7.8% lower cost of living index. Alexandria scores 74 compared to 80 for Lake Charles, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Lake Charles can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Alexandria is $946/month compared to $1,090/month in Lake Charles — a 13% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Alexandria is more affordable at $182,800 median vs $204,000.

Median household income in Alexandria is $47,357 compared to $56,864 in Lake Charles (-16.7%). While Lake Charles is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Alexandria spend roughly 24% of their income on rent, more than the 23% in Lake Charles.