Uprootmap
Shreveport vs Lake Charles
Shreveport 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 Shreveport to Lake Charles
In 2022-2023, 41 households filed a move from Shreveport to Lake Charles (about 82 people, average adjusted gross income $47,927). Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,077 in Shreveport and $1,149 in Lake Charles. Shreveport has a 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 85% in Shreveport.
Lake Charles averages 228 sunny days, with July highs around 90°F and January nights around 47°F. Shreveport is 218 sunny days, 91°F in July, 40°F in January. Commutes average 23 minutes in Lake Charles and 22 in Shreveport.
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, 41 households moved Shreveport → Lake Charles (about 82 people, average AGI $47,927). 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 Shreveport and Lake Charles changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 203 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,750–$3,250
- Container or pod
- $1,200–$2,200
- Rent a truck
- $450–$850
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Dig into Lake Charles
Questions
Is Lake Charles cheaper than Shreveport after tax and rent?
No. Lake Charles leaves about $76 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,077 in Shreveport 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 Shreveport 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.