Cost of Living Comparison Between Arlington, TX and Lake Charles, LA Cost of Living Comparison Between Arlington, TX and Lake Charles, LA

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Arlington, TX is 6.5% more expensive than Lake Charles, LA without rent, and 9.6% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Arlington, TX is 8% more expensive than Lake Charles, LA without rent, and 0.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Arlington, TX
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.82 $19.82
$25.93 $25.93
-23.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.2 $75.2
$91.7 $91.7
-18.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.98 $9.98
$9.84 $9.84
1.42%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.34 $4.34
28.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$1.69 $1.69
55.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 $2.09
$2.15 $2.15
-2.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.03 $5.03
$5.89 $5.89
-14.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.92 $6.92
$8.14 $8.14
-14.99%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Arlington, TX
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.9 $0.9
$1.33 $1.33
-32.33%
White Bread (500g)
$3.32 $3.32
$3.99 $3.99
-16.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.98 $3.98
$6.11 $6.11
-34.86%
Eggs
$3.49 $3.49
$4.52 $4.52
-22.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.88 $11.88
$14.83 $14.83
-19.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.91 $11.91
$11.08 $11.08
7.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.5 $14.5
$14.75 $14.75
-1.69%
Apples (1kg)
$4.83 $4.83
$4.47 $4.47
8.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 $1.69
$1.28 $1.28
32.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.35 $4.35
$1.94 $1.94
124.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.98 $3.98
$5.24 $5.24
-24.05%
Potato (1kg)
$2.46 $2.46
$3.98 $3.98
-38.19%
Onion (1kg)
$2.85 $2.85
$2.23 $2.23
27.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.18 $2.18
-5.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.24 $2.24
$3.08 $3.08
-27.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.89 $8.89
$8.27 $8.27
7.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.92 $11.92
$17.3 $17.3
-31.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.16 $2.16
$2 $2
8.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.49 $4.49
$3.48 $3.48
29.02%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Arlington, TX
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.32 $5.32
$1.94 $1.94
174.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.3 $39.3
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.31 $4.31
$3.43 $3.43
25.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.28 $1.28
$1.45 $1.45
-11.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.13 $24.13
$35.51 $35.51
-32.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.77 $0.77
$0.83 $0.83
-7.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2K $25.2K
$34.4K $34.4K
-26.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$28.3K $28.3K
-8.38%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arlington, TX
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$200 $200
$236 $236
-15.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.4 $60.4
$59 $59
2.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.7 $66.7
$60.7 $60.7
9.85%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Arlington, TX
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.59 $41.59
$42.62 $42.62
-2.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$14.06 $14.06
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.68 $13.68
$11.33 $11.33
20.74%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Arlington, TX
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,390 $1,390
$1,559 $1,559
-10.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.4K $22.4K
$10.1K $10.1K
120.70%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Arlington, TX
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.3 $55.3
$46.93 $46.93
17.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.65 $44.65
$41.43 $41.43
7.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.6 $84.6
$75.9 $75.9
11.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 $118
$98.2 $98.2
19.78%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Arlington, TX
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,616 $1,616
$1,621 $1,621
-0.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,074 $1,074
$1,358 $1,358
-20.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,752 $2,752
$2,637 $2,637
4.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,336 $2,336
$2,203 $2,203
6.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,183 $2,183
$1,353 $1,353
61.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,116 $2,116
$1,363 $1,363
55.26%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Arlington, TX
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,026 $4,026
$3,662 $3,662
9.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.52
6.57
-0.76%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Arlington, TX: October 27, 2025

Last update for Lake Charles, LA: October 28, 2025

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