Home project costs in Lake Charles, LA
Every project we cover, priced for the Lake Charles metro with local BLS wages and BEA price levels.
The BEA price index for the Lake Charles area is 85.9 against 100 for the US, which puts Lake Charles 292nd among 300 metros we track. Goods prices, which matter most for materials, are at 93.7. BLS counts roughly 101,690 jobs here.
In Lake Charles, 0 of the 38 projects price above the national midpoint and 38 below. The highest against the national midpoint are sprinkler system (−4%), attic insulation (−5%) and paver patio (−7%); the biggest discounts are laminate flooring (−18%), composite deck (−15%) and hardwood flooring (−14%). The spread comes from which trades each job uses: a labor-heavy job follows local wages, while a materials-heavy job follows the goods index.
Weather: the nearest NOAA station (Lake Charles, 5 miles away) shows a January average low of 43°F, a July average high of 92°F and 60 inches of precipitation a year (1991-2020 normals). For concrete pours, the workable months are September through May; for exterior installation, they are September through May.
What local trades earn in Lake Charles
| Trade | Projects using it | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 25 | $17.37 | $21.75 | $25.18 | $22.66 | 0.96 |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 23 | $16.13 | $22.08 | $28.48 | $29.12 | 0.76 |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10 | $21.27 | $23.69 | $29.07 | $28.78 | 0.82 |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 7 | $28.59 | $32.69 | $35.49 | $30.67 | 1.07 |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $27.41 | n/a |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 6 | $23.38 | $30.59 | $34.83 | $30.38 | 1.01 |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $26.77 | n/a |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $26.65 | n/a |
Concrete & paving in Lake Charles
Across these 7 projects, Lake Charles averages −9% against national midpoints. Paver patio is highest at −7% and concrete driveway lowest at −11%.
| Project | Size | Lake Charles range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab cost in Lake Charles | 400 sq ft | $2,200 – $4,700 | −9% |
| Concrete driveway cost in Lake Charles | 600 sq ft | $3,300 – $8,200 | −11% |
| Asphalt driveway cost in Lake Charles | 600 sq ft | $2,800 – $6,800 | −8% |
| Gravel driveway cost in Lake Charles | 1,000 sq ft | $2,300 – $9,300 | −9% |
| Paver patio cost in Lake Charles | 300 sq ft | $2,800 – $5,050 | −7% |
| Concrete patio cost in Lake Charles | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,600 | −10% |
| Stamped concrete cost in Lake Charles | 400 sq ft | $2,950 – $7,200 | −9% |
Decks & outdoor in Lake Charles
Across these 2 projects, Lake Charles averages −14% against national midpoints. Wood deck is highest at −12% and composite deck lowest at −15%.
| Project | Size | Lake Charles range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck cost in Lake Charles | 300 sq ft | $6,600 – $13,300 | −12% |
| Composite deck cost in Lake Charles | 300 sq ft | $10,300 – $20,600 | −15% |
Building & additions in Lake Charles
The 2 jobs here average −12% versus the US in Lake Charles, from −13% (home addition) to −11% (detached garage).
| Project | Size | Lake Charles range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detached garage cost in Lake Charles | 576 sq ft | $25,900 – $51,900 | −11% |
| Home addition cost in Lake Charles | 300 sq ft | $33,100 – $67,100 | −13% |
Doors & windows in Lake Charles
Across these 5 projects, Lake Charles averages −11% against national midpoints. Garage door is highest at −9% and patio door lowest at −13%.
| Project | Size | Lake Charles range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garage door cost in Lake Charles | 1 door | $630 – $3,350 | −9% |
| Storm door cost in Lake Charles | 1 door | $300 – $840 | −12% |
| Front door cost in Lake Charles | 1 door | $420 – $2,250 | −10% |
| Window replacement cost in Lake Charles | 10 windows | $4,050 – $13,600 | −10% |
| Patio door cost in Lake Charles | 1 door | $530 – $5,200 | −13% |
Fencing in Lake Charles
Across these 4 projects, Lake Charles averages −9% against national midpoints. Vinyl fence is highest at −8% and wood fence lowest at −11%.
| Project | Size | Lake Charles range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence cost in Lake Charles | 150 linear ft | $2,700 – $6,850 | −11% |
| Vinyl fence cost in Lake Charles | 150 linear ft | $4,200 – $8,400 | −8% |
| Chain-link fence cost in Lake Charles | 150 linear ft | $1,400 – $5,500 | −10% |
| Aluminum fence cost in Lake Charles | 150 linear ft | $3,450 – $10,400 | −9% |
Roofing & exterior in Lake Charles
Across these 5 projects, Lake Charles averages −9% against national midpoints. Attic insulation is highest at −5% and vinyl siding lowest at −12%.
| Project | Size | Lake Charles range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement cost in Lake Charles | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,500 – $11,400 | −9% |
| Metal roof cost in Lake Charles | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $9,150 – $29,700 | −9% |
| Gutters cost in Lake Charles | 160 linear ft | $1,200 – $3,900 | −8% |
| Vinyl siding cost in Lake Charles | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,450 – $22,300 | −12% |
| Attic insulation cost in Lake Charles | 1,000 sq ft | $950 – $3,800 | −5% |
Kitchen & bath in Lake Charles
The 5 jobs here average −10% versus the US in Lake Charles, from −13% (kitchen cabinets) to −8% (shower pan).
| Project | Size | Lake Charles range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets cost in Lake Charles | 25 linear ft | $3,800 – $12,100 | −13% |
| Shower pan cost in Lake Charles | 1 pan | $870 – $2,600 | −8% |
| Kitchen remodel cost in Lake Charles | 120 sq ft | $17,000 – $28,900 | −8% |
| Bathroom remodel cost in Lake Charles | 45 sq ft | $4,300 – $21,200 | −9% |
| Kitchen backsplash cost in Lake Charles | 30 sq ft | $260 – $1,300 | −12% |
Landscaping & drainage in Lake Charles
The 5 jobs here average −7% versus the US in Lake Charles, from −9% (sod installation) to −4% (sprinkler system).
| Project | Size | Lake Charles range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain cost in Lake Charles | 60 linear ft | $550 – $1,950 | −8% |
| Retaining wall cost in Lake Charles | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,500 – $12,500 | −8% |
| Sod installation cost in Lake Charles | 1,500 sq ft | $1,350 – $3,000 | −9% |
| Sprinkler system cost in Lake Charles | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,850 – $9,550 | −4% |
| Inground pool cost in Lake Charles | 450 sq ft | $33,500 – $105,000 | −7% |
Flooring & interior in Lake Charles
Across these 3 projects, Lake Charles averages −14% against national midpoints. Tile flooring is highest at −11% and laminate flooring lowest at −18%.
| Project | Size | Lake Charles range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood flooring cost in Lake Charles | 500 sq ft | $4,700 – $10,800 | −14% |
| Laminate flooring cost in Lake Charles | 500 sq ft | $1,600 – $5,800 | −18% |
| Tile flooring cost in Lake Charles | 200 sq ft | $2,050 – $9,050 | −11% |
Lake Charles against its nearest metros
Averaged over all 38 projects, Lake Charles prices −10% against the US midpoint. Of the 6 closest metros, 3 price higher and 3 lower. Alexandria is the lowest at −12% (95 miles) and Houston the highest at −6% (130 miles). These are unweighted averages of the midpoints, a rough guide to overall price level rather than a number for any one job.
| Metro | Distance | Price index | Goods index | All projects vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles, LAthis page | 85.9 | 93.7 | −10% | |
| Beaumont, TX | 60 miles | 90.0 | 93.8 | −7% |
| Lafayette, LA | 65 miles | 87.2 | 93.7 | −12% |
| Alexandria, LA | 95 miles | 85.7 | 93.7 | −12% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 125 miles | 90.8 | 93.7 | −8% |
| Houston, TX | 130 miles | 98.6 | 100.6 | −6% |
| Houma, LA | 150 miles | 85.1 | 93.7 | −12% |