Uprootmap
Lake Charles vs Lafayette
Lake Charles and Lafayette
Photo: TheLionHasSeen / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Lafayette are above the US rate in this release, 10.7 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Lake Charles to Lafayette
In 2022-2023, 371 households filed a move from Lake Charles to Lafayette (about 730 people, average adjusted gross income $43,439). 428 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,149 in Lake Charles and $1,052 in Lafayette. Lake Charles has a state tax on wages. Lafayette has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Lafayette is 91% of the national level for the same work, against 89% in Lake Charles.
Lafayette averages 231 sunny days, with July highs around 91°F and January nights around 46°F. Lake Charles is 228 sunny days, 90°F in July, 47°F in January. Commutes average 25 minutes in Lafayette and 23 in Lake Charles.
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, 371 households moved Lake Charles → Lafayette (about 730 people, average AGI $43,439). 428 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 Lake Charles and Lafayette changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 76 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,600–$3,000
- Container or pod
- $1,050–$2,000
- Rent a truck
- $400–$700
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Dig into Lafayette
Questions
Is Lafayette cheaper than Lake Charles after tax and rent?
Yes. Lafayette leaves about $114 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,149 in Lake Charles and $1,052 in Lafayette.
Does Lafayette have state income tax?
Lafayette is in Louisiana, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Lake Charles to Lafayette?
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.