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

🙂 Solo nomad: Lake Charles, LA is 6.1% cheaper than Arlington, TX without rent, and 10.7% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Lake Charles, LA is 7.4% cheaper than Arlington, TX without rent, and 0.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lake Charles, LA
Arlington, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.93 $25.93
$19.82 $19.82
30.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.7 $91.7
$75.2 $75.2
22.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.84 $9.84
$9.98 $9.98
-1.40%
Cappuccino
$4.34 $4.34
$5.56 $5.56
-21.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$2.63 $2.63
-35.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 $2.15
$2.09 $2.09
2.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.89 $5.89
$5.03 $5.03
17.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.14 $8.14
$6.92 $6.92
17.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lake Charles, LA
Arlington, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 $1.33
$0.9 $0.9
47.78%
White Bread (500g)
$3.99 $3.99
$3.32 $3.32
20.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.11 $6.11
$3.98 $3.98
53.52%
Eggs
$4.52 $4.52
$3.49 $3.49
29.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.83 $14.83
$11.88 $11.88
24.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.08 $11.08
$11.91 $11.91
-6.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.75 $14.75
$14.5 $14.5
1.72%
Apples (1kg)
$4.47 $4.47
$4.83 $4.83
-7.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.28 $1.28
$1.69 $1.69
-24.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 $1.94
$4.35 $4.35
-55.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.24 $5.24
$3.98 $3.98
31.66%
Potato (1kg)
$3.98 $3.98
$2.46 $2.46
61.79%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 $2.23
$2.85 $2.85
-21.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.05 $2.05
6.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.08 $3.08
$2.24 $2.24
37.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.27 $8.27
$8.89 $8.89
-6.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.3 $17.3
$11.92 $11.92
45.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2 $2
$2.16 $2.16
-7.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 $3.48
$4.49 $4.49
-22.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Lake Charles, LA
Arlington, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.94 $1.94
$5.32 $5.32
-63.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$39.3 $39.3
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.43 $3.43
$4.31 $4.31
-20.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.45 $1.45
$1.28 $1.28
13.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.51 $35.51
$24.13 $24.13
47.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$0.77 $0.77
7.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K $34.4K
$25.2K $25.2K
36.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K $28.3K
$25.9K $25.9K
9.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lake Charles, LA
Arlington, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$236 $236
$200 $200
17.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59 $59
$60.4 $60.4
-2.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.7 $60.7
$66.7 $66.7
-8.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lake Charles, LA
Arlington, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.62 $42.62
$41.59 $41.59
2.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.06 $14.06
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.33 $11.33
$13.68 $13.68
-17.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lake Charles, LA
Arlington, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,559 $1,559
$1,390 $1,390
12.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.1K $10.1K
$22.4K $22.4K
-54.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lake Charles, LA
Arlington, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.93 $46.93
$55.3 $55.3
-15.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.43 $41.43
$44.65 $44.65
-7.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.9 $75.9
$84.6 $84.6
-10.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.2 $98.2
$118 $118
-16.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lake Charles, LA
Arlington, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,621 $1,621
$1,616 $1,616
0.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,358 $1,358
$1,074 $1,074
26.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,637 $2,637
$2,752 $2,752
-4.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,203 $2,203
$2,336 $2,336
-5.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,353 $1,353
$2,183 $2,183
-38.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,363 $1,363
$2,116 $2,116
-35.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lake Charles, LA
Arlington, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,662 $3,662
$4,026 $4,026
-9.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
6.52
0.77%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

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

Last update for Arlington, TX: October 27, 2025

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