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Rental Market Trends in Lake Charles, LA

What is the average rent in Lake Charles, LA?

$1,038/month

Average Rent

712 Sq Ft

Average Apartment Size

+11.6%

Increase in the Last Year

As of April 2026, the average rent in Lake Charles, LA is $1,038 per month. This is 37% lower than the national average rent of $1,641/month, making renting in Lake Charles more affordable than most cities in the US. When you rent an apartment in Lake Charles, you can expect to pay about $844 per month for a studio, $1,038 for a one-bedroom apartment, and around $1,223 for a two-bedroom apartment. If you opt for a three-bedroom rental, you could pay $1,374 or more.

Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Studio
$844/month
218 Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,038/month
712 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,223/month
999 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,374/month
1,204 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,227/month
713 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$2,205/month
1,345 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$3,706/month
2,181 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft

How much has average rent changed in Lake Charles, LA?

In the past year, rent has increased by 11.6%, which averages out to $121 more per month.

Market Trends Over Time   The chart below compares average rent prices to the previous year during the same time period.
Last Updated April 2026
Legend
2025 2026
Market Trends Over Time
Rent Ranges in Lake Charles, LA
Last Updated April 2026
$700 - $1,000
Most rental prices fall within this range
Rent Ranges in Lake Charles, LA
Percentage*
Rent Range
7% Below $700/month
46% $700 - $1,000/month
37% $1,001 - $1,500/month
8% $1,501 - $2,000/month
1% Above $2,000/month

Rent by Neighborhood

Last Updated Today
  • Most Affordable
  • Most Expensive
  • Most Available

What are the most affordable neighborhoods in Lake Charles?

Based on current rent prices, Downtown Lake Charles and Charpentier Historic District" are the most affordable neighborhoods in Lake Charles.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Downtown Lake Charles
$1,016/month
816 Sq Ft
Charpentier Historic District
$1,016/month
816 Sq Ft

What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Lake Charles?

Based on current rent prices, Downtown Lake Charles and Charpentier Historic District" are the most expensive neighborhoods in Lake Charles.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Downtown Lake Charles
$1,016/month
816 Sq Ft
Charpentier Historic District
$1,016/month
816 Sq Ft

Which Lake Charles neighborhoods have the most rentals available?

The neighborhoods in Lake Charles with the most apartments available are Downtown Lake Charles and Charpentier Historic District" .

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Downtown Lake Charles
$1,016/month
816 Sq Ft
Charpentier Historic District
$1,016/month
816 Sq Ft
This information is based on data collected by CoStar Group researchers.†

What salary do I need to live comfortably in Lake Charles, LA?

Because the average rent in Lake Charles is $1,038, you’ll want to make about $3,460 per month or $41,520 per year. The general guideline is to pay no more than 30 percent of your monthly income on rent. However, you’ll want to consider additional factors, such as your monthly bills and other expenses. Use our rent affordability calculator to help determine how much to budget for rent.

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Lake Charles, LA is 12.7% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Lake Charles is 30.6% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $844 - $1,374. You can expect to pay 4.1% less for groceries, 29.3% less for utilities, and 1.7% more for transportation.

City

Lake Charles, LA

514 Available Apartments for Rent

Search for Nearby Apartments

How does Lake Charles, LA compare to other nearby cities and neighborhoods?

Use the tool below to compare Lake Charles, LA to other nearby cities and neighborhoods. The Apartments.com neighborhood guides provide you with insight into the area’s transportation, things to do, and more.

Explore the Area Guide for Lake Charles, LA

Apartment Averages

Downtown Lake Charles

Lake Charles, LA

Downtown Lake Charles

Lake Charles, LA

Studio
$999/month
$999/month
One Bedroom
$1,102/month
$1,102/month
Two Bedroom
$1,408/month
$1,408/month
Three Bedroom
$1,271/month
$1,271/month
Search
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Nearby City Rent Trends

  • Sulphur Average Rent

Apartment communities in Lake Charles we think you'll love

Capstone at the Oaks - 55+ Community

Capstone at the Oaks - 55+ Community

2401 6th St,
Lake Charles, LA 70601

$760 - $980

2 Beds

Country Club Pointe Apartment Homes

Country Club Pointe Apartment Homes

2845 Country Club Rd,
Lake Charles, LA 70605

$1,422 - $2,452

1-3 Beds

Crescent at Country Club

Crescent at Country Club

1531 Country Club Rd,
Lake Charles, LA 70605

$1,090 - $1,575

1-3 Beds

Evergreen at River Oaks

Evergreen at River Oaks

4650 Nelson Rd,
Lake Charles, LA 70605

$1,205 - $1,750

1-3 Beds

Property Management Companies in Lake Charles, LA

Hawthorne Residential Partners
Hawthorne Residential Partners
  • 248

    Communities

  • 59,853

    Units

  • 111

    Cities

3 Communities in Lake Charles
Vintage Realty Company
Vintage Realty Company
  • 21

    Communities

  • 3,778

    Units

  • 11

    Cities

3 Communities in Lake Charles
Pegasus Residential
Pegasus Residential
  • 194

    Communities

  • 47,466

    Units

  • 110

    Cities

2 Communities in Lake Charles
HRI Properties
HRI Properties
  • 27

    Communities

  • 4,802

    Units

  • 9

    Cities

2 Communities in Lake Charles
Greystar
Greystar
  • 3,488

    Communities

  • 959,885

    Units

  • 891

    Cities

1 Community in Lake Charles
BH
BH
  • 272

    Communities

  • 83,796

    Units

  • 157

    Cities

1 Community in Lake Charles
Advanced Precision Group LLC
Advanced Precision Group LLC
  • 82

    Communities

  • 11,827

    Units

  • 60

    Cities

1 Community in Lake Charles
Highlands Vista Group Management LLC
Highlands Vista Group Management LLC
  • 46

    Communities

  • 7,792

    Units

  • 35

    Cities

1 Community in Lake Charles

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United States Louisiana Lake Charles Rental Trends

Methodology

† 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 February 2026.

Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.

* Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.

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© 2026 CoStar Group, Inc. Equal Housing Opportunity

Equal Housing Opportunity

© 2026 CoStar Group, Inc.

Equal Housing Opportunity