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Lake Charles, LA

Cost of living in Calcasieu Parish, LA

Part of the Lake Charles Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$2,826/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 208,668 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $877 31%
Federal tax $493 17%
Healthcare $480 17%
Transport $320 11%
Groceries $315 11%
Energy $186 7%
State tax $100 4%
Water $55 2%

Rent in Calcasieu Parish

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$871
per month
1 bedroom
$877
per month
2 bedroom
$1,144
per month
3 bedroom
$1,383
per month
4 bedroom
$1,517
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Calcasieu Parish

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$67,849
per year
Individual earnings
$40,201
per year
Per capita
$35,568
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Calcasieu Parish

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$208,500
Annual property tax
$926

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Calcasieu Parish

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$152
per month · 12.7¢/kWh
Natural gas
$34
per month
Annual total
$2,232
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Calcasieu Parish

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
7.7%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Calcasieu Parish

State and local tax rates for Louisiana.

State income tax
4.3%
Top marginal rate
State sales tax
4.5%
Combined sales tax
9.6%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Calcasieu Parish

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
21.7 min
Drive alone
82.6%
Public transit
0.2%
Work from home
5.1%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Calcasieu Parish

What it costs to live in Calcasieu Parish each month.

Single person
$2,826
per month
  • Rent $877
  • Energy $186
  • Water $55
  • Groceries $315
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $493
  • State tax $100
Couple
$4,210
per month
  • Rent $1,144
  • Energy $223
  • Water $65
  • Groceries $522
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $780
  • State tax $192
Family
$6,571
per month
  • Rent $1,383
  • Energy $279
  • Water $75
  • Groceries $792
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $780
  • State tax $192

Frequently asked questions about Calcasieu Parish

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Calcasieu Parish?

In Calcasieu Parish, LA, a one-bedroom apartment averages $877 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,144 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,383 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Calcasieu Parish?

In Calcasieu Parish, LA, the average household income is $67,849 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $40,201 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Calcasieu Parish?

The estimated cost of living in Calcasieu Parish, LA is approximately $2,826 per month for a single person, $4,210 for a couple, $6,571 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Calcasieu Parish?

The combined sales tax rate in Calcasieu Parish, LA is 9.55%, which includes the Louisiana state rate of 4.45% plus an average local rate of 5.10%.

Is Calcasieu Parish an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Calcasieu Parish, LA would need approximately $2,826 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $67,849 per year ($5,654 per month). Calcasieu Parish is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in Calcasieu Parish?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Calcasieu Parish, LA is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 7.7% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Calcasieu Parish?

The average home value in Calcasieu Parish, LA is $208,500, with average annual property taxes of $926, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Calcasieu Parish compare to other areas?

You can compare Calcasieu Parish, LA with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Calcasieu Parish is in the Lake Charles, LA metro area.

Other counties in Louisiana

Browse the full list of counties in Louisiana, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Louisiana

Compare Calcasieu Parish with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources