Cost of Living Comparison Between Lake Charles, LA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Lake Charles, LA and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Lake Charles, LA is 22.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 11.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Lake Charles, LA is 17.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 16% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lake Charles, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.93 $25.93
$20.82 $20.82
24.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.7 $91.7
$100 $100
-8.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.84 $9.84
$11.97 $11.97
-17.79%
Cappuccino
$4.34 $4.34
$5.56 $5.56
-21.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$3.11 $3.11
-45.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 $2.15
$2.42 $2.42
-11.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.89 $5.89
$6.86 $6.86
-14.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.14 $8.14
$8.45 $8.45
-3.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lake Charles, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 $1.33
$1.04 $1.04
27.88%
White Bread (500g)
$3.99 $3.99
$4.15 $4.15
-3.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.11 $6.11
$5.52 $5.52
10.69%
Eggs
$4.52 $4.52
$4.65 $4.65
-2.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.83 $14.83
$14.33 $14.33
3.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.08 $11.08
$14.88 $14.88
-25.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.75 $14.75
$19.34 $19.34
-23.73%
Apples (1kg)
$4.47 $4.47
$5.17 $5.17
-13.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.28 $1.28
$1.71 $1.71
-25.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 $1.94
$4.41 $4.41
-56.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.24 $5.24
$4.51 $4.51
16.19%
Potato (1kg)
$3.98 $3.98
$2.53 $2.53
57.31%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 $2.23
$2.74 $2.74
-18.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.43 $2.43
-10.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.08 $3.08
$2.7 $2.7
14.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.27 $8.27
$15.19 $15.19
-45.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.3 $17.3
$16.42 $16.42
5.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2 $2
$2.35 $2.35
-14.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 $3.48
$3.7 $3.7
-5.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Lake Charles, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.53 $2.53
-23.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.43 $3.43
$3.34 $3.34
2.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.45 $1.45
$1.42 $1.42
2.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.51 $35.51
$25.42 $25.42
39.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$1.08 $1.08
-23.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K $34.4K
$32.4K $32.4K
6.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K $28.3K
$26.2K $26.2K
7.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lake Charles, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$236 $236
$188 $188
25.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59 $59
$63.7 $63.7
-7.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.7 $60.7
$65.2 $65.2
-6.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lake Charles, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.62 $42.62
$76.7 $76.7
-44.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.06 $14.06
$13.03 $13.03
7.90%
Cinema Ticket
$11.33 $11.33
$14.93 $14.93
-24.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lake Charles, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,559 $1,559
$2,063 $2,063
-24.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.1K $10.1K
$39.2K $39.2K
-74.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lake Charles, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.93 $46.93
$64.3 $64.3
-27.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.43 $41.43
$52.4 $52.4
-20.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.9 $75.9
$95.2 $95.2
-20.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.2 $98.2
$145 $145
-32.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lake Charles, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,621 $1,621
$2,378 $2,378
-31.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,358 $1,358
$1,584 $1,584
-14.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,637 $2,637
$4,763 $4,763
-44.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,203 $2,203
$2,815 $2,815
-21.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,353 $1,353
$3,588 $3,588
-62.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,363 $1,363
$2,490 $2,490
-45.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lake Charles, LA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,662 $3,662
$5,275 $5,275
-30.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
6.6
-0.45%

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 Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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