Uprootmap
Lake Charles vs Phoenix
Lake Charles and Phoenix
Photo: Wikimedia, Public domain
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Phoenix are close to the US rate in this release, 6.6 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 Phoenix
In 2022-2023, 37 households filed a move from Lake Charles to Phoenix (about 71 people, average adjusted gross income $55,378). Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,149 in Lake Charles and $1,277 in Phoenix. Lake Charles has a state tax on wages. Phoenix has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Phoenix is 97% of the national level for the same work, against 89% in Lake Charles.
Phoenix averages 299 sunny days, with July highs around 106°F and January nights around 46°F. Lake Charles is 228 sunny days, 90°F in July, 47°F in January. Commutes average 26 minutes in Phoenix 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, 37 households moved Lake Charles → Phoenix (about 71 people, average AGI $55,378). The reverse flow is too small for the IRS to publish.
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 Phoenix changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 1,356 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $3,050–$5,750
- Container or pod
- $2,200–$4,100
- Rent a truck
- $1,250–$2,350
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Dig into Phoenix
Questions
Is Phoenix cheaper than Lake Charles after tax and rent?
No. Phoenix leaves about $246 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,149 in Lake Charles and $1,277 in Phoenix.
Does Phoenix have state income tax?
Phoenix is in Arizona, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Lake Charles to Phoenix?
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.