Calcasieu Parish, LA at a glance
Median household income
$67,564$5,630 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Calcasieu Parish, LA?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Calcasieu Parish, LA? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Lake Charles, LA HUD Metro FMR Area, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $921 | $11,052 | $36,840 | 16.4% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $928 | $11,136 | $37,120 | 16.5% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,217 | $14,604 | $48,680 | 21.6% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,459 | $17,508 | $58,360 | 25.9% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,611 | $19,332 | $64,440 | 28.6% |
Rent in Calcasieu Parish, LA, with the wage each unit needs →
What a typical income covers in Calcasieu Parish, LA
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $67,564 a year ($5,630 a month before tax).
What $67,564 leaves after Louisiana taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Louisiana tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Louisiana
Living in Calcasieu Parish, LA: common questions
What is the median household income in Calcasieu Parish, LA?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Calcasieu Parish, LA is $67,564 per year (approximately $5,630 per month).
What is the average rent in Calcasieu Parish, LA?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $921 for a studio, $928 for one bedroom, $1,217 for two, $1,459 for three and $1,611 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Calcasieu Parish, LA expensive to live in?
Prices there run 14.1% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 85.9, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Calcasieu Parish, LA?
To keep a $1,217 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $48,680 a year, or $4,057 a month. That is 72% of what the typical household in Calcasieu Parish, LA earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Calcasieu Parish, LA?
On the local median income of $67,564 ($5,630 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,815 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,689 for everything else and $1,126 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,217 takes 43% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Calcasieu Parish, LA?
Homes in Louisiana paid 13.5¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $121. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.