CostIndexUSA

Burlington, VT vs Lafayette, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

VT
Burlington
100.9
overall index
$2,150/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Lafayette
87.2
overall index
$1,325/mo rent

Lafayette is moderately cheaper than Burlington — 13.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Burlington, you would need $69,100 in Lafayette. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing43.4%
Burlington
103.8
Lafayette
58.8
🛒 Groceries3.7%
Burlington
97.3
Lafayette
93.7
🚗 Transportation5.8%
Burlington
106.7
Lafayette
100.5
🏥 Healthcare5.8%
Burlington
96.5
Lafayette
90.9
Utilities43.3%
Burlington
125.6
Lafayette
71.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lafayette, LA
$69,100
$10,900 less needed in Lafayette

Formula: salary × (87.2 ÷ 100.9) = salary × 0.8642. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Burlington, VT

Median Home Price
$459,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,150
Housing Index
103.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.8×

Lafayette, LA

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

Burlington has 43.4% lower housing costs compared to Lafayette.

Income & Job Market

Burlington, VT

Median Household Income
$95,500
Per Capita Income
$54,400
Unemployment Rate
1.9%
Population
44,743
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyTourismFinance

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).

Burlington, VT
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Lafayette, LA
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

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.