Cost of living in Lafayette, LA Livability score 72 · cost-of-living index 87.6 (US = 100)
How Lafayette compares Where Lafayette falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 88 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 88 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $202k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $202k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $101 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $101 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 9.6% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 9.6% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.49% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.49% Violent crime (per 100k) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k): 630 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 630 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 14.4 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 14.4 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 92° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 92° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 43° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 43° Map of Lafayette Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
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Cost of living Metric Value US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 87.6 #8 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 93.0 #16 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $4.98 #7 of 200 Median household income $58,150 #182 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $38,909 #117 of 200
Economy Metric Value US rank Unemployment rate 5.97% #158 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) -1.6% #188 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value US rank Median home price $202,312 #12 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 3.5× #15 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +2.1% #85 of 200 Price per square foot $101 #8 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 1,999 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,371 #44 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 1,793 Median days on market 26 #143 of 200
Taxes Metric Value US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 9.1% #38 of 200 Combined sales tax 9.56% #195 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 4.25% Capital gains tax 4.25% #78 of 200 High earners No special surtax Effective property tax rate 0.49% #14 of 200 Median property tax paid $913 #9 of 200
Healthcare & childcare Metric Value US rank Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,600 #65 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $8,000 #14 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value US rank Annual registration $100 #83 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) 0.10% of value (~$28/yr) #105 of 200 Emissions testing Not required Emissions detail No vehicle emissions testing DMV & license offices 4 Avg commute to work 26 min #135 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value US rank Electricity 14.4¢/kWh #27 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $130 #27 of 200 Gasoline $2.95/gal #3 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $52 #23 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $108 #115 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $76 #20 of 200
Insurance Metric Value US rank Home insurance (annual) $3,500 #160 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $2,900 #181 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $1,000 #179 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 42 #1 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 2,900 #158 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 1,500 #23 of 200 Avg summer high 92°F #163 of 200 Avg winter low 43°F #39 of 200 Annual precipitation 63.4" #196 of 200 Annual snowfall 0.0" #1 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 57% #121 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 9a Frost window 02-10 → 12-15
Safety Metric Value US rank Violent crime (per 100k) 630 #191 of 200 Property crime (per 100k) 3,000 #186 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value US rank Grocery stores 120 #5 of 200 Parks 60 Hiking areas 15 Golf courses 15 Shooting ranges 4 Lakes 4
Permits Metric Value US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 2 #1 of 200 Permit detail Generally easy
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts (Google Maps listings) via our own scraper.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.