CostIndexUSA

Fayetteville, AR vs Lafayette, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

AR
Fayetteville
91.4
overall index
$1,575/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Lafayette
87.2
overall index
$1,325/mo rent

Lafayette is slightly cheaper than Fayetteville — 4.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fayetteville, you would need $76,300 in Lafayette. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing23.5%
Fayetteville
76.9
Lafayette
58.8
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Fayetteville
93.6
Lafayette
93.7
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Fayetteville
100.1
Lafayette
100.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Fayetteville
90.5
Lafayette
90.9
Utilities5.2%
Fayetteville
75.1
Lafayette
71.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lafayette, LA
$76,300
$3,700 less needed in Lafayette

Formula: salary × (87.2 ÷ 91.4) = salary × 0.9540. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Fayetteville, AR

Median Home Price
$358,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,575
Housing Index
76.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.9×

Lafayette, LA

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

Fayetteville has 23.5% lower housing costs compared to Lafayette.

Income & Job Market

Fayetteville, AR

Median Household Income
$77,700
Per Capita Income
$44,300
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Population
93,949
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyRetailManufacturing

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).

Fayetteville, AR
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.