Lake Charles, LA vs Metairie, LA

Lake Charles is moderately more affordable than Metairie, with a 13.1% lower cost of living index. Lake Charles scores 80 compared to 92 for Metairie, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Metairie can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Lake Charles is $1,090/month compared to $1,159/month in Metairie — a 6% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Lake Charles is more affordable at $204,000 median vs $308,900.

Median household income in Lake Charles is $56,864 compared to $73,256 in Metairie (-22.4%). While Metairie is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Lake Charles spend roughly 23% of their income on rent, more than the 19% in Metairie.