CostIndexUSA

Baton Rouge, LA vs Lafayette, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

LA
Baton Rouge
90.8
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Lafayette
87.2
overall index
$1,325/mo rent

Lafayette is slightly cheaper than Baton Rouge — 4.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Baton Rouge, you would need $76,800 in Lafayette. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing−20.8%
Baton Rouge
74.2
Lafayette
58.8
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Baton Rouge
93.7
Lafayette
93.7
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Baton Rouge
100.5
Lafayette
100.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Baton Rouge
90.9
Lafayette
90.9
⚡ Utilities≈ Equal
Baton Rouge
71.2
Lafayette
71.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Baton Rouge to see what you'd need to earn in Lafayette to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
→
Equivalent salary in Lafayette, LA
$76,800
$3,200 less needed in Lafayette

Formula: salary × (87.2 ÷ 90.8) = salary × 0.9604. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Baton Rouge, LA

Median Home Price
$240,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,350
Housing Index
74.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

Lafayette, LA

Median Home Price
$194,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,325
Housing Index
58.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.2×

Baton Rouge has 20.8% lower housing costs compared to Lafayette.

Income & Job Market

Baton Rouge, LA

Median Household Income
$64,600
Per Capita Income
$36,800
Unemployment Rate
4.6%
Population
227,470
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareGovernmentEducationManufacturing

Lafayette, LA

Median Household Income
$57,300
Per Capita Income
$32,700
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
120,623
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareEducationManufacturingRetail

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Baton Rouge, LA
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Lafayette, LA
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

Baton Rouge vs other cities

Baton Rouge, LA
vs
Lake Charles, LA
Index: 90.8Index: 85.9
Baton Rouge, LA
vs
Monroe, LA
Index: 90.8Index: 83.6
Baton Rouge, LA
vs
New Orleans, LA
Index: 90.8Index: 92.6
Baton Rouge, LA
vs
Richmond, VA
Index: 90.8Index: 97.9
Baton Rouge, LA
vs
Santa Clarita, CA
Index: 90.8Index: 113.6

Lafayette vs other cities

Lafayette, LA
vs
Lake Charles, LA
Index: 87.2Index: 85.9
Lafayette, LA
vs
Monroe, LA
Index: 87.2Index: 83.6
Lafayette, LA
vs
New Orleans, LA
Index: 87.2Index: 92.6
Lafayette, LA
vs
College Station, TX
Index: 87.2Index: 91
Lafayette, LA
vs
Hartford, CT
Index: 87.2Index: 102.7

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.