Last updated on June 10, 2026

Average rent in
Lake Charles, LA

Key takeaways for renters

  • Where Lake Charles rent stands today

    Lake Charles, LA rent rose 25.8% year over year, reaching a current median of $1,195/month. Renters are paying $202 more per month on average than last year, with rents now at the city's peak level for this cycle.

  • Compared to national trends

    Lake Charles rents are 38.7% more affordable than the $1,950/month national median, positioning it as a more accessible market for renters seeking value in Louisiana.

  • Rent ranges by bedroom

    Studios in Lake Charles rent for $575/month, 1-bedrooms for $800/month, 2-bedrooms around $1,175/month, and 3-bedrooms at $1,600/month. The 4+ bedroom segment is priced at $4,300/month, marking a premium compared to smaller units.

Median rent

Median rent in Lake Charles

$1,195/mo

increased by26%

vs previous year

The average rent in Lake Charles is $1,195 per month as of June 2026. This is 39% below the national average rent, or $755 less per month.

$1.17

average price per square foot

Total rentals

Available rentals in Lake Charles

102

for rent on Zumper.com as of June 2026

Rent price distribution

Share of Lake Charles rentals at each price point

60%45%30%15%0%
$0 - $750
$751 - $1,500
$1,501 - $2,250
$2,251 - $3,000
$3,001+

Rent trends in Lake Charles, LA

Average rent prices in Lake Charles have remained the same over the last month and have increased by 26% since last year.

Rent trends

Rent prices on this page are calculated on a rolling 30-day basis and updated daily.

Compare rent prices in Lake Charles, LA

Rent prices in Lake Charles vary by bedroom size, rental type, and neighborhood. The average rent for an apartment in Lake Charles is $962, whereas a house costs $1,400. 1-bedroom apartments in Lake Charles run $800 on average, while 2-bedroom apartments are $1,175.

Listings

Studio

$575

26%

43%

1 bedroom

$800

1%

2%

2 bedroom

$1,175

No Change

21%

3 bedroom

$1,600

2%

40%

4 bedroom

$4,300

3%

73%

Studio

Average rent

$575

Last 30 days

26%

Last year

43%

1 bedroom

Average rent

$800

Last 30 days

1%

Last year

2%

2 bedroom

Average rent

$1,175

Last 30 days

No Change

Last year

21%

3 bedroom

Average rent

$1,600

Last 30 days

2%

Last year

40%

4 bedroom

Average rent

$4,300

Last 30 days

3%

Last year

73%

The table above reflects average rent prices in Lake Charles, LA, broken down by the number of bedrooms, neighborhoods, and property types. The availability of data for each category is dependent on market inventory and will adjust depending on your selected filters.

How does rent in Lake Charles, LA compare to other cities?

Compare median rent prices in Lake Charles and Beaumont by all bedroom counts and property types.

Lake Charles

Median rent price$1,195
decreased by39%

lower than the national median

Median rent price$1,038
decreased by47%

lower than the national median

Takeaway

The median rent for all rentals in Lake Charles, LA is 15% higher than the median rent in Beaumont, TX.

Average rent in nearby cities

Explore rent trends in neighboring markets

Beaumont

$1,038

increased by9%
Last year
Bridge City

$1,100

Flat
Last year
Deridder

$1,300

increased by7%
Last year
Groves

$1,350

increased by21%
Last year
Iowa

$1,395

increased by20%
Last year
Moss Bluff

$1,400

increased by57%
Last year

Cost of living in Lake Charles, LA

Explore the cost of essential expenses, and then use our rent calculator to find out how much rent you can afford.

Expenses
accrued by most renters
Average cost
compared to national average
Goods & Services2% lower
Groceries4% lower
Health2% lower
Housing35% lower
Transportation2% higher
Utilities32% lower

Discover rentals in Lake Charles, LA

The Oaks - Photo 1 of 1

4d ago

8.3

Very good

The Oaks

2400 Fruge St, Lake Charles, LA 70601

2–3 beds

1–2 baths

$600–$895

Apartment for rent

915 N Blake St #B - Photo 1 of 1

5d+ ago

House for rent in Lake Charles

915 N Blake Unit B

915 N Blake St #B, Lake Charles, LA 70601

2 beds

1 bath

$700

House for rent

Available May 22

2701 Cline St - Photo 1 of 1

5d+ ago

House for rent in Lake Charles

House for rent

Mossy Manor II - Photo 1 of 1

4d ago

8.4

Very good

Mossy Manor II

1005 Shellie Ln, Lake Charles, LA 70611

2 beds

1 bath

$750

Apartment for rent

Stay up to date with rental market insights

View the National Rent Report

National Rent Report

View the Canadian Rent Report

Canadian Rent Report

View the Annual Rent Report

Annual Rent Report

Are you interested in licensing our current and historical rental real estate data, or do you have custom data requests? Contact datalicensing@zumper.com.

Frequently asked questions for Lake Charles, LA

Quick answers to common questions about the Lake Charles rental market.

How much is rent in Lake Charles?

The average rent in Lake Charles is $1,195 per month as of June 6, 2026.

Is rent up or down in Lake Charles?

Average rent prices in Lake Charles have remained the same over the last month and have increased by 26% since last year.

How does Lake Charles rent compare to the national average?

Rent in Lake Charles is 39% below the national average, which means renters are paying approximately $755 less per month.

What salary do I need to afford rent in Lake Charles?

To comfortably afford rent in Lake Charles, you'd need to earn approximately $48,000/year, based on spending no more than 30% of your income on rent.

When is the best time of year to rent in Lake Charles?

Lake Charles, Louisiana rental prices in 2025 show one-bedroom apartments averaging around $810 per month, while two-bedroom units cost around $920 per month. These figures reflect the current market conditions across the city's rental inventory.

Methodology

Rent prices are based on Zumper's rental listings from the past 30 days. Median rent is calculated across all available listings and property types on the platform. If you filter the page by bedroom count or property type, the pricing throughout the page will update automatically to reflect that segment of the rental market.

Household and population data come from the U.S. Census Bureau. Cost-of-living data is sourced from the Council for Community and Economic Research's Cost of Living Index (COLI).

Apartments for rent in Bridge City
Apartments for rent in DeRidder
Apartments for rent in Groves
Apartments for rent in Iowa
Apartments for rent in Jennings
Apartments for rent in Lake Charles
Apartments for rent in Moss Bluff
Apartments for rent in Orange
Apartments for rent in Port Arthur
Apartments for rent in Port Neches
Apartments for rent in Sulphur
Apartments for rent in Westlake

2131 9th St, Lake Charles, LA 70601, USA
1113 Shellie Ln, Lake Charles, LA 70611, USA
1300 1/2 Oklahoma St, Lake Charles, LA 70607, USA
125 East St, Lake Charles, LA 70601, USA
1812 Ethel St, Lake Charles, LA 70601, USA
2436 Salmon St, Lake Charles, LA 70605, USA
3728 Opelousas St, Lake Charles, LA 70615, USA
515 Division St, Lake Charles, LA 70601, USA
910 Falls St, Lake Charles, LA 70601, USA
155 Heather St, Lake Charles, LA 70605, USA
2002 13th St, Lake Charles, LA 70601, USA
2116 Creole St, Lake Charles, LA 70601, USA
2201 Enterprise Blvd, Lake Charles, LA 70601, USA
317 West School Street, Lake Charles, LA 70605, USA
3809 Common St, Lake Charles, LA 70607, USA
4607 W Prien Lake Rd, Lake Charles, LA 70605, USA
4906 Common St, Lake Charles, LA 70607, USA
5014 Desoto St, Lake Charles, LA 70607, USA
518 E Mcneese St, Lake Charles, LA 70605, USA
5797 N Highway 171, Lake Charles, LA 70611, USA