At $1,313/mo, rent takes about 27% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,313 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: August 17, 2026
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Who lives here
Lake Charles, LA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 29.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Lake Charles, LA has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Lake Charles, LA paid around $1,135 a month. That figure now sits near $1,313, up 15.7% from the 2021 baseline. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $49,913 in 2021 to $59,235 more recently. With wages climbing faster than rent over the same window, renters here have a bit more breathing room than they did five years back. Census counts show Lake Charles, LA losing about 2,301 residents over the five-year window, down 2.8% on net. The renter share has eased from 42% to 39.1%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Lake Charles, LA market of 2021.
Discussions about Lake Charles
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Can you afford rent in Lake Charles on your salary?
At $1,313/mo, how Lake Charles rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Lake Charles rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Lake Charles. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Lake Charles
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Lake Charles is $1,313/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $910/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,193/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $915/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,443/mo.
At 27% of local median household income ($59,235/yr), Lake Charles ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 27.2% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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What percentage of Lake Charles residents rent vs. own?
How does Lake Charles rent compare to the national average?
At $1,313/mo, rent takes ~27% of Lake Charles's median household income ($59,235/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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