Uprootmap
Houston vs Lake Charles
Houston and Lake Charles
Photo: CTtcg / Wikimedia, Public domain
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Lake Charles are above the US rate in this release, 8.6 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Houston to Lake Charles
In 2022-2023, 364 households filed a move from Houston to Lake Charles (about 709 people, average adjusted gross income $52,558). 429 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,188 in Houston and $1,149 in Lake Charles. Houston has no state tax on wages. Lake Charles has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Lake Charles is 89% of the national level for the same work, against 102% in Houston.
Lake Charles averages 228 sunny days, with July highs around 90°F and January nights around 47°F. Houston is 204 sunny days, 94°F in July, 45°F in January. Commutes average 23 minutes in Lake Charles and 29 in Houston.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 364 households moved Houston → Lake Charles (about 709 people, average AGI $52,558). 429 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Houston and Lake Charles changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 156 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,700–$3,150
- Container or pod
- $1,150–$2,150
- Rent a truck
- $450–$800
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Dig into Lake Charles
Questions
Is Lake Charles cheaper than Houston after tax and rent?
No. Lake Charles leaves about $60 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,188 in Houston and $1,149 in Lake Charles.
Does Lake Charles have state income tax?
Lake Charles is in Louisiana, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Houston to Lake Charles?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.