Cost of Living in Lafayette, LA
Lafayette, LA — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Lafayette, LA to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Lafayette, LA?
With a price level of 87.2 (U.S. average = 100), Lafayette, LA is one of the most affordable places in the country. In detail, housing costs are 41% below average; everyday goods are 6% below average; utilities are 29% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 4% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Lafayette, LA vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 87.2 | −12.8% |
| Housing | 58.8 | −41.2% |
| Goods | 93.7 | −6.3% |
| Utilities | 71.2 | −28.8% |
| Other services | 95.7 | −4.3% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Lafayette, LA
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $727 | $29,080/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $847 | $33,880/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $974 | $38,960/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,238 | $49,520/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,460 | $58,400/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Lafayette, LA
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Lafayette, LA | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $34,900 | $29,561 |
| $60,000 | $52,300 | $43,020 |
| $80,000 | $69,800 | $56,227 |
| $100,000 | $87,200 | $67,945 |
| $150,000 | $130,800 | $97,130 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Louisiana 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Lafayette, LA's median wage of $41,780 takes home about $2,907 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $847, which is 29% of take-home pay — within the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,060 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Lafayette, LA
- Federal income tax$2,834
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,590
- Medicare (1.45%)$606
- Louisiana income tax$867
- Take-home pay$34,883
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Lafayette, LA
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Manager | $99,510 | $76,236 | $87,418 |
| Registered Nurse | $81,960 | $64,416 | $73,864 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $62,800 | $51,142 | $58,643 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver | $49,450 | $40,816 | $46,802 |
| Office Clerks, General | $34,510 | $29,260 | $33,551 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $32,600 | $27,782 | $31,857 |
| Stocker and Order Filler | $31,310 | $26,785 | $30,713 |
| Retail Salesperson | $28,600 | $24,688 | $28,309 |
| Cashier | $24,920 | $21,770 | $24,963 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $22,920 | $20,183 | $23,144 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $22,320 | $19,707 | $22,598 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aide | $21,400 | $18,977 | $21,761 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $15,080 | $13,860 | $15,893 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Louisiana cities
Half of Louisiana’s 1,934,900 workers earn less than $45,520 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $30,350–$66,340 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Houma, LA stretches a paycheck furthest, while Hammond, LA is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA | $47,290 | 92.6 | $1,105 | 34% | $2,157 | $42,275 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $48,710 | 90.8 | $1,048 | 31% | $2,306 | $44,331 |
| Lafayette, LA | $41,780 | 87.2 | $847 | 29% | $2,060 | $39,999 |
| Shreveport, LA | $44,820 | 84.8 | $982 | 32% | $2,121 | $43,926 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $45,700 | 85.9 | $894 | 28% | $2,266 | $44,163 |
| Slidell, LA | $43,710 | 92.7 | $1,130 | 37% | $1,901 | $39,229 |
| Monroe, LA | $38,150 | 83.6 | $772 | 29% | $1,901 | $38,369 |
| Houma, LA | $45,610 | 85.1 | $904 | 29% | $2,250 | $44,470 |
| Alexandria, LA | $40,600 | 85.7 | $780 | 28% | $2,051 | $39,645 |
| Hammond, LA | $38,480 | 84.5 | $848 | 31% | $1,846 | $38,279 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Lafayette, LA vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette, LA | 87.2 | $847 | $41,780 | 179,570 |
| Davenport, IA | 89.1 | $928 | $48,550 | 180,450 |
| Sioux Falls, SD | 90.6 | $978 | $47,970 | 178,590 |
| Asheville, NC | 96.5 | $1,429 | $46,870 | 180,620 |
| Anchorage, AK | 105.4 | $1,190 | $60,200 | 177,050 |
| Lincoln, NE | 91.6 | $917 | $49,800 | 182,620 |
| York, PA | 96.0 | $1,060 | $48,170 | 183,590 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Lafayette, LA expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Lafayette, LA metro area are 87.2% of the U.S. average, with housing at 58.8%. It is the #351 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Lafayette, LA?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $52,325 in Lafayette, LA (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $41,780.
Can you afford Lafayette, LA on the median wage?
A single worker on the $41,780 median wage takes home about $2,907 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $847 would take 29% of that.
How much is rent in Lafayette, LA?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Lafayette, LA are $727 for a studio, $847 for one bedroom, $974 for two bedrooms and $1,238 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Lafayette, LA
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $99,510
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $81,960
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $21,400
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Food Preparation Worker — $22,920
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $22,320
- Waiter and Waitress — $15,080
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $62,800
- Retail Salesperson — $28,600
- Cashier — $24,920
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Office Clerks, General — $34,510
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $49,450
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $32,600
- Stocker and Order Filler — $31,310