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

🙂 Solo nomad: Lake Charles, LA is 11.5% cheaper than Austin, TX without rent, and 0.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Lake Charles, LA is 4.6% cheaper than Austin, TX without rent, and 3.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lake Charles, LA
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.93 $25.93
$19.64 $19.64
32.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.7 $91.7
$76.2 $76.2
20.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.84 $9.84
$9.95 $9.95
-1.11%
Cappuccino
$4.34 $4.34
$5.61 $5.61
-22.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$2.64 $2.64
-35.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 $2.15
$2.19 $2.19
-1.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.89 $5.89
$5.84 $5.84
0.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.14 $8.14
$7.92 $7.92
2.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lake Charles, LA
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 $1.33
$1.13 $1.13
17.70%
White Bread (500g)
$3.99 $3.99
$3.3 $3.3
20.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.11 $6.11
$3.5 $3.5
74.57%
Eggs
$4.52 $4.52
$4.4 $4.4
2.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.83 $14.83
$12 $12
23.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.08 $11.08
$10.68 $10.68
3.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.75 $14.75
$14.73 $14.73
0.14%
Apples (1kg)
$4.47 $4.47
$4.88 $4.88
-8.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.28 $1.28
$1.52 $1.52
-15.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 $1.94
$4.53 $4.53
-57.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.24 $5.24
$3.92 $3.92
33.67%
Potato (1kg)
$3.98 $3.98
$2.72 $2.72
46.32%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 $2.23
$2.76 $2.76
-19.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.01 $2.01
8.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.08 $3.08
$2.18 $2.18
41.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.27 $8.27
$8.86 $8.86
-6.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.3 $17.3
$14.96 $14.96
15.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2 $2
$2.34 $2.34
-14.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 $3.48
$3.44 $3.44
1.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Lake Charles, LA
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.94 $1.94
$1.48 $1.48
31.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$42.82 $42.82
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.43 $3.43
$4.3 $4.3
-20.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.45 $1.45
$1.82 $1.82
-20.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.51 $35.51
$34.63 $34.63
2.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$0.73 $0.73
13.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K $34.4K
$25.5K $25.5K
35.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K $28.3K
$26.3K $26.3K
7.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lake Charles, LA
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$236 $236
$177 $177
33.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59 $59
$58.9 $58.9
0.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.7 $60.7
$64.8 $64.8
-6.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lake Charles, LA
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.62 $42.62
$62.6 $62.6
-31.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.06 $14.06
$10.17 $10.17
38.25%
Cinema Ticket
$11.33 $11.33
$14.72 $14.72
-23.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lake Charles, LA
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,559 $1,559
$1,378 $1,378
13.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.1K $10.1K
$22.4K $22.4K
-54.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lake Charles, LA
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.93 $46.93
$56.3 $56.3
-16.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.43 $41.43
$46.46 $46.46
-10.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.9 $75.9
$86.7 $86.7
-12.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.2 $98.2
$119 $119
-17.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lake Charles, LA
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,621 $1,621
$2,188 $2,188
-25.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,358 $1,358
$1,395 $1,395
-2.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,637 $2,637
$3,896 $3,896
-32.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,203 $2,203
$2,689 $2,689
-18.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,353 $1,353
$4,414 $4,414
-69.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,363 $1,363
$3,161 $3,161
-56.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lake Charles, LA
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,662 $3,662
$4,871 $4,871
-24.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
6.45
1.86%

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 Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

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