CostIndexUSA

Lafayette, LA vs Little Rock, AR Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableLA
Lafayette
87.2
overall index
$1,325/mo rent
AR
Little Rock
89.4
overall index
$1,200/mo rent

Lafayette is slightly cheaper than Little Rock — 2.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Lafayette, you would need $82,000 in Little Rock. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+16.2%
Lafayette
58.8
Little Rock
68.3
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Lafayette
93.7
Little Rock
93.6
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Lafayette
100.5
Little Rock
100.1
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Lafayette
90.9
Little Rock
90.5
Utilities+4.8%
Lafayette
71.2
Little Rock
74.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Little Rock, AR
$82,000
$2,000 more needed in Little Rock

Formula: salary × (89.4 ÷ 87.2) = salary × 1.0252. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Lafayette, LA

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

Little Rock, AR

Median Home Price
$222,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,200
Housing Index
68.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.4×

Little Rock has 16.2% higher housing costs compared to Lafayette.

Income & Job Market

Lafayette, LA

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

Little Rock, AR

Median Household Income
$66,200
Per Capita Income
$37,700
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
202,591
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareRetailFinanceManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

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

Lafayette, LA
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

Little Rock, AR
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.