At $1,329/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 $1,329 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: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
March. Asking rents in Lake Charles usually run 0.6% below trend in March and 0.7% above it in July, about $17 a month apart at today's median. Based on 9 years of data.
Rent in Lake Charles is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in August 2016.
Rent in Lake Charles changed +19.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 36 Louisiana cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.9%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Lake Charles rose 7.3% while median household income rose 37.9% ($42,942 to $59,235). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in Lake Charles is 40.9% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 15 months in a row, and rose in 12 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($59,235) is $1,481 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,443); a 4-bedroom is $1,583.
The priciest of 4 ZIP codes in Lake Charles, 70605 ($1,438/mo), costs 38% more than the cheapest, 70601 ($1,039/mo).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Lake Charles. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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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 $1,215 a month. That figure now sits near $1,329, up 9.4% 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.
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Can you afford rent in Lake Charles on your salary?
At $1,329/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: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Lake Charles is $1,329/mo as of October 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 19.2% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Lake Charles?
At $1,329/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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