Lake Wales, FL vs Thibodaux, LA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Thibodaux, LA has a modeled overall cost index 9.6% lower than Lake Wales, FL.

Lake Wales, FL · modeled 2BR rent: $1,220 / month
Thibodaux, LA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,110 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

Adjust your income and compare the budget ↓

Tap to swap

Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Lake Wales, FL and Thibodaux, LA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Lake Wales, FL

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $690/month in Thibodaux, LA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $141,726 in Thibodaux, LA

Regional cost estimates: Lake Wales, FL uses Orlando, FL. Thibodaux, LA uses Baton Rouge, LA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 9.6%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$690

Savings

Annual Impact

$8.3K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Lake Wales, FL

Population:17K

Cost Index:

96.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$219K

Thibodaux, LA

Population:16K

Cost Index:

86.7

100 = national average

Typical Home:$219K

Planning the move to Thibodaux?

Organize packing, address changes, and moving-day tasks with a free checklist. Your progress saves in this browser. No account needed.

Plan my move with the free checklist

Lake Wales, FL

The Sunshine State

17K

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Florida, this city has a population of 17K residents.

💡 Advantage: Florida has no state income tax!

Thibodaux, LA

The Pelican State

16K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Louisiana, this city has a population of 16K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Lake Wales, FL vs Thibodaux, LA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Lake Wales, FL	Thibodaux, LA	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,349/mo	$1,895/mo	↓ $454less	19.3%
Healthcare	$570/mo	$477/mo	↓ $93.77less	16.4%
All Utilities	$574/mo	$492/mo	↓ $81.88less	14.3%
Groceries	$1,020/mo	$981/mo	↓ $38.83less	3.8%
Transportation	$1,240/mo	$1,228/mo	↓ $11.78less	0.9%
Other	$1,746/mo	$1,737/mo	↓ $9.19less	0.5%

Housing

↓ 19.3%

Lake Wales, FL

$2,349

Thibodaux, LA

$1,895

Difference

$454

less

Healthcare

↓ 16.4%

Lake Wales, FL

$570

Thibodaux, LA

$477

Difference

$93.77

less

All Utilities

↓ 14.3%

Lake Wales, FL

$574

Thibodaux, LA

$492

Difference

$81.88

less

Groceries

↓ 3.8%

Lake Wales, FL

$1,020

Thibodaux, LA

$981

Difference

$38.83

less

Transportation

↓ 0.9%

Lake Wales, FL

$1,240

Thibodaux, LA

$1,228

Difference

$11.78

less

Other

↓ 0.5%

Lake Wales, FL

$1,746

Thibodaux, LA

$1,737

Difference

$9.19

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,000

To$770

↓ $230

1 Bed

From$1,000

To$910

↓ $90.00

2 Bed

From$1,220

To$1,110

↓ $110

3 Bed

From$1,650

To$1,340

↓ $310

Lake Wales, FLZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,000–$1,000/mo

Thibodaux, LAZIP-level data

1BR range: $910–$910/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Lake Wales, FL

$6,810

Monthly in Thibodaux, LA

$690

Difference

Home Values

Lake Wales

Thibodaux

$219K

Median Value

$219K

↓ -4.5%

YoY Change

↓ -0.2%

↑ +42.8%

5-Year Change

↓ -3%

Calculate payment - Lake Wales Calculate payment - Thibodaux

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↓ $7.8K

More taxes

Monthly Difference

$646

Less take-home

Effective Rate Diff

5.2%

Rate difference

Lake Wales, FL

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Florida State Tax

No state income tax

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 24.7%

$37.0K

Take-Home Pay

$9,416/month

$113.0K

Thibodaux, LA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Louisiana State Tax

Effective: 5.2%

$7.8K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 29.8%

$44.8K

Take-Home Pay

$8,770/month

$105.2K

Additional Tax Information

Lake Wales, FL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.2%

Property Tax:0.8%

Thibodaux, LA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.6%

Property Tax:0.5%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Lake Wales

Thibodaux

41 Good

Air Quality

51 Moderate

75.6%

Good Air Days

48.9%

98 High

Climate Risk

98 High

🌊🌀🌪

Top Hazards

🌊🌀🌡

▲+2.3°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.2°F

58 days

Heat Days >95°F

51 days

▲+2.3°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.2°F

58 days

Heat Days >95°F

51 days

Before moving from Lake Wales, FL to Thibodaux, LA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Thibodaux, LA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Lake Wales, FL. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Lake Wales to Thibodaux moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Thibodaux, LA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Lake Wales, FL vs Thibodaux, LA

How do the cost estimates for Lake Wales, FL and Thibodaux, LA compare?

Thibodaux, LA has a modeled overall cost index 9.6% lower than Lake Wales, FL. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Lake Wales, FL, the model estimates $141,726 in Thibodaux, LA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Lake Wales, FL and Thibodaux, LA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,220/month in Lake Wales, FL and $1,110/month in Thibodaux, LA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Florida and Louisiana on TaxTakeHome.com