CostIndexUSA

Lafayette, LA vs Spokane, WA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableLA
Lafayette
87.2
overall index
$1,325/mo rent
WA
Spokane
100.3
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

Lafayette is significantly cheaper than Spokane — 15.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Lafayette, you would need $92,000 in Spokane. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+65.1%
Lafayette
58.8
Spokane
97.1
🛒 Groceries+12.1%
Lafayette
93.7
Spokane
105
🚗 Transportation+3.9%
Lafayette
100.5
Spokane
104.4
🏥 Healthcare+4.0%
Lafayette
90.9
Spokane
94.5
Utilities+28.1%
Lafayette
71.2
Spokane
91.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Spokane, WA
$92,000
$12,000 more needed in Spokane

Formula: salary × (100.3 ÷ 87.2) = salary × 1.1502. 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×

Spokane, WA

Median Home Price
$406,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
97.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.9×

Spokane has 65.1% 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

Spokane, WA

Median Household Income
$72,800
Per Capita Income
$41,500
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
228,989
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationGovernmentManufacturingRetail

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)

Spokane, WA
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.