Lake Charles combines Louisiana's rich heritage with contemporary living along the Gulf Coast. The city, anchored by McNeese State University, offers entertainment options from L'Auberge Casino Resort to a revitalized downtown district. Residents enjoy outdoor recreation at Lake Charles and Prien Lake, with the waterfront boardwalk providing scenic views and walking paths. The Charpentier Historic District preserves the city's past through its collection of Victorian-era architecture, while the Creole Nature Trail leads visitors through Southwest Louisiana's wetlands and wildlife habitats.
The rental market in Lake Charles offers competitive pricing, with one-bedroom apartments averaging $930 and two-bedroom units at $1,085, reflecting a 4.3% annual increase. Housing choices include downtown apartments and suburban communities across the city's 51 square miles. The local economy centers on petrochemical manufacturing and tourism, while annual celebrations like the Louisiana Pirate Festival showcase the area's Cajun and Creole traditions. The city's subtropical climate creates year-round greenery, influenced by its location along Louisiana's Gulf Coast.
The waterways and bayous around Margaret Place Historic District are a big part of life.
At Graywood, golf is a lifestyle and can be played all year long, no matter the season.
Joe Miller Ballpark energizes Lake Charles with exciting McNeese State baseball games.
As of December 2025, the average apartment rent in Lake Charles, LA is $805 for a studio, $950 for one bedroom, $1,154 for two bedrooms, and $1,337 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Lake Charles has increased by 6.9% in the past year.
The cost of living in Lake Charles, LA is 12.5% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Lake Charles is 31.7% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $805 - $1,337. You can expect to pay 4.1% less for groceries, 30.5% less for utilities, and 2.3% more for transportation.
If you love Mardi Gras, live somewhere that shares your passion! Explore other cities that host the biggest celebrations in the U.S.
Car-Dependent
out of 100 WalkScore® Rating
This area is considered a car-dependent area and most errands will require a car.
Somewhat Bikeable
out of 100 BikeScore® Rating
You might be able to find places to ride your bike in this area, but you’ll most likely want your car for most errands.
Lebleu Settlement Elementary School
Public
Grades PK-5
428 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
671 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
654 Students
M. J. Kaufman Elementary School
Public
Grades PK-5
294 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
973 Students
Public
Grades 7-12
340 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
883 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
1,107 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
661 Students
Ray D. Molo Middle Magnet School
Public
Grades 6-8
325 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,991 Students
Public
Grades 7-12
340 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,216 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
907 Students
Washington/Marion Magnet High School
Public
Grades 9-12
587 Students
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in November 2025.
