Cost of living in the Lake Charles Metro Area
3 counties across LA. Population: 245,973.
Last updated May 22, 2026
Rent in the Lake Charles Metro Area
Average rent across the Lake Charles metro area, weighted by county population.
Source: HUD FMR + ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Income and earnings in the Lake Charles Metro Area
Earnings data averaged across all 3 counties.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Home values in the Lake Charles Metro Area
Average home values and annual property tax across the metro.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Energy costs in the Lake Charles Metro Area
Residential electricity and natural gas estimates.
Source: EIA (state averages applied per county, weighted)
All 3 counties in the Lake Charles Metro Area
The Lake Charles metro area includes 3 counties. Sorted by population.
- Calcasieu Parish LA$2,826/moPop208,668 Rent$877/mo Income$67,849/yrCalcasieu Parish LA 208,668 $877/mo $67,849/yr $2,826/mo
- Jefferson Davis Parish LA$2,597/moPop32,083 Rent$690/mo Income$56,500/yrJefferson Davis Parish LA 32,083 $690/mo $56,500/yr $2,597/mo
- Cameron Parish LA$2,993/moPop5,222 Rent$877/mo Income$72,500/yrCameron Parish LA 5,222 $877/mo $72,500/yr $2,993/mo
Compare counties in the Lake Charles Metro Area
Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up across the metro.
Open comparison toolFrequently asked questions about the Lake Charles Metro Area
Common questions about cost of living in the metro area.
What is the cost of living in the Lake Charles Metro Area?
The estimated average cost of living in the Lake Charles metro area is approximately $2,800 per month for a single person. This is a population-weighted average across the 3 counties that make up the metro area.
What is the average rent in the Lake Charles Metro Area?
The average one-bedroom rent across the Lake Charles metro area is $853 per month, based on HUD Fair Market Rent data weighted by county population.
What is the cheapest county in the Lake Charles Metro Area?
Jefferson Davis Parish, LA is the most affordable county in the Lake Charles metro area at approximately $2,597 per month for a single person.
What is the most expensive county in the Lake Charles Metro Area?
Cameron Parish, LA is the most expensive county in the Lake Charles metro area at approximately $2,993 per month for a single person.
How many counties are in the Lake Charles Metro Area?
The Lake Charles metro area covers 3 counties. The five largest by population are Calcasieu Parish, Jefferson Davis Parish, Cameron Parish.
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About this data
All figures come from official U.S. government sources. Metro-area averages are population-weighted across constituent counties using Census ACS population estimates.