Travel budget and cost of living in Lake Charles (Louisiana) how much does a trip cost?

Lake Charles travel budget

Lake Charles: calculate your travel budget

Sample budgets for a trip to Lake Charles

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in Lake Charles for 2 people.

* estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks (excluding plane tickets).

Cost of living in Lake Charles compared to United States in 2025

On average, the cost of living in Lake Charles in 2025 is 14% less than the average cost of living in the United States (USA).

See the graphic below for the price variation percentage by type of expense in Lake Charles in 2025 compared to average prices in the United States (USA):

Local prices in Lake Charles by expense type

Restaurant budget in Lake Charles

Lunch

$ 28/person
($ 17 to $ 56)

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29% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 22

3 course dinner

$ 51/person
($ 46 to $ 119)

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24% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 41

McDonald's meal

$ 12/person
($ 12 to $ 17)

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6% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12

Local beer

$ 6.2 for 500ml
($ 3.3 to $ 7.9)

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3% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6.5

Imported beer

$ 3.7 for 330ml
($ 1.6 to $ 5.5)

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4% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.8

Cappuccino

$ 5/cup
($ 2.1 to $ 7.7)

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12% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.6

Fizzy drink

$ 1.8/can
($ 1.8 to $ 6.1)

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33% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.7

Water bottle

$ 2.4/bottle
($ 1.6 to $ 4.4)

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11% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

Hotel and accommodation budget in Lake Charles

1-star hotel

$ 55/night
($ 55 to $ 55)

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68% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 174

2-star hotel

$ 119/night
($ 56 to $ 535)

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27% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 166

3-star hotel

$ 156/night
($ 71 to $ 340)

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36% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 244

4-star hotel

$ 195/night
($ 131 to $ 417)

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43% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 344

5-star hotel

$ 102/night
($ 102 to $ 736)

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81% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 561

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 102/month
($ 102 to $ 684)

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42% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 176

Room with kitchen

$ 147/month
($ 63 to $ 609)

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43% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 262

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 143/month
($ 59 to $ 580)

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35% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 222

Cottage or guest house

$ 174/month
($ 174 to $ 174)

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31% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 252

Family room

$ 138/month
($ 61 to $ 719)

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36% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 216

Supermarket food budget in Lake Charles

Milk

$ 1.4/litre
($ 1 to $ 2.2)

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25% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Bread

$ 4.2/500g
($ 3.6 to $ 4.9)

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9% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9

Rice

$ 6.8/kg
($ 3.7 to $ 9.8)

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39% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.9

Eggs

$ 3.8/12 eggs
($ 2.2 to $ 5.7)

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4% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4

Chicken

$ 15/kg
($ 6.1 to $ 29)

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16% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13

Apples

$ 4.9/kg
($ 2.9 to $ 7.4)

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14% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.7

Tomatoes

$ 5.2/kg
($ 2.9 to $ 8.5)

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2% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3

Potatoes

$ 3.5/kg
($ 1.8 to $ 4.9)

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9% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.2

Water bottle

$ 2.8
($ 1.6 to $ 4.3)

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19% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.4

Public and private transport budget in Lake Charles

Bus ticket

$ 1/ticket
( $ 1)

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60% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.7

Taxi (per km)

$ 1.6/km
($ 1.6 to $ 1.6)

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11% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.9

Petrol

$ 0.9/litre
($ 0.8 to $ 1.2)

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12% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 4.2
($ 3.9 to $ 5.5)

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5% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4

Leisure activity budget in Lake Charles

Cinema

$ 13/ticket
($ 9.9 to $ 24)

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15% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 16

Tennis

$ 16/hr
( $ 16)

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31% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 23

Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes in Lake Charles

Cigarettes

$ 9.5/pack
($ 8.9 to $ 11)

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12% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11

Levi's jeans

$ 54
($ 28 to $ 79)

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6% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 57

Summer dress

$ 42
($ 28 to $ 62)

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11% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 47

Plane ticket budget

Dublin → New York City

$ 584
(fair price: $ 502)

Manchester → New York City

$ 699
(fair price: $ 577)

London → New York City

$ 568
(fair price: $ 498)

Edinburgh → New York City

$ 822
(fair price: $ 654)

London → Miami (Florida)

$ 729
(fair price: $ 617)

Manchester → Miami (Florida)

$ 763
(fair price: $ 675)