Houma, LA vs Lake Charles, LA

Houma, LA and Lake Charles, LA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.8% difference in their overall index. Houma scores 79 while Lake Charles scores 80 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Houma is $1,011/month compared to $1,090/month in Lake Charles — a 7% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Houma has cheaper rent, Lake Charles actually has lower median home values ($204,000 vs $207,900).

Median household income in Houma is $54,637 compared to $56,864 in Lake Charles (-3.9%). 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 Houma spend roughly 22.2% of their income on rent, less than the 23% in Lake Charles.