Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Lake Charles, LA Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Lake Charles, LA

😐 Solo nomad: New York, NY is 68.7% more expensive than Lake Charles, LA without rent, and 66.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: New York, NY is 58.8% more expensive than Lake Charles, LA without rent, and 86.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New York, NY
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.68 $29.68
$25.93 $25.93
14.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$144 $144
$91.7 $91.7
57.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.43 $12.43
$9.84 $9.84
26.32%
Cappuccino
$5.84 $5.84
$4.34 $4.34
34.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 $3.26
$1.69 $1.69
92.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.15 $2.15
20.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.24 $8.24
$5.89 $5.89
39.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.86 $11.86
$8.14 $8.14
45.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.33 $1.33
17.29%
White Bread (500g)
$5.23 $5.23
$3.99 $3.99
31.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$8.11 $8.11
$6.11 $6.11
32.73%
Eggs
$7.25 $7.25
$4.52 $4.52
60.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.08 $17.08
$14.83 $14.83
15.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.24 $16.24
$11.08 $11.08
46.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.02 $20.02
$14.75 $14.75
35.73%
Apples (1kg)
$7.49 $7.49
$4.47 $4.47
67.56%
Banana (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$1.28 $1.28
99.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.82 $5.82
$1.94 $1.94
200.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.52 $6.52
$5.24 $5.24
24.43%
Potato (1kg)
$3.72 $3.72
$3.98 $3.98
-6.53%
Onion (1kg)
$3.9 $3.9
$2.23 $2.23
74.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.07 $3.07
$2.18 $2.18
40.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$3.08 $3.08
-16.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.21 $19.21
$8.27 $8.27
132.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.79 $17.79
$17.3 $17.3
2.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$2 $2
50.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$3.48 $3.48
6.90%
🚌 Getting Around
New York, NY
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.92 $2.92
$1.94 $1.94
50.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$134 $134
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.13 $5.13
$3.43 $3.43
49.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.45 $1.45
48.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.57 $41.57
$35.51 $35.51
17.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$0.83 $0.83
14.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35K $35K
$34.4K $34.4K
1.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K $27.7K
$28.3K $28.3K
-1.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$179 $179
$236 $236
-24.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60 $60
$59 $59
1.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.8 $63.8
$60.7 $60.7
5.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$141 $141
$42.62 $42.62
230.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$63.9 $63.9
$14.06 $14.06
354.48%
Cinema Ticket
$19.9 $19.9
$11.33 $11.33
75.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,206 $3,206
$1,559 $1,559
105.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$56.5K $56.5K
$10.1K $10.1K
457.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.7 $65.7
$46.93 $46.93
40.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.75 $48.75
$41.43 $41.43
17.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 $111
$75.9 $75.9
46.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$172 $172
$98.2 $98.2
74.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,165 $4,165
$1,621 $1,621
157.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,653 $2,653
$1,358 $1,358
95.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$8,412 $8,412
$2,637 $2,637
219.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,277 $5,277
$2,203 $2,203
139.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$15.6K $15.6K
$1,353 $1,353
1054.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.2K $11.2K
$1,363 $1,363
718.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,616 $5,616
$3,662 $3,662
53.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.44
6.57
-1.98%

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

Last update for New York, NY: October 28, 2025

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

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