| Index | Lafayette | Indiana | National |
| Cost of living | 89 | 89 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Health care | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Housing | 72 | 72 | 100 |
| Transportation | 95 | 96 | 100 |
| Utilities | 94 | 96 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 94 | 95 | 100 |
| Household Items | 96 | 98 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 89 | 94 | 100 |
The cost of living in Lafayette affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Lafayette is 89, which is 11% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.
The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 13 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Lafayette. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 31% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 69% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.
Is Lafayette an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Lafayette, the median home price is 35.1% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 11.3% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Lafayette come in at $69,648, which is 14.4% lower than the national average.
Subsidies: Certain cities or states may institute government subsidies or assistance programs designed to alleviate the financial burdens associated with the cost of living for their residents. These programs encompass a variety of support mechanisms, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farm subsidies. Areas that provide fewer subsidies may see an uptick in their overall cost of living.
Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In Lafayette, the groceries index is 0.8% lower than the national average.
Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In Lafayette, the housing index comes in at 27.9% lower than the national average.
The cost of living estimates displayed for Lafayette are modeled using a U.S. average baseline of 100, helping provide a useful comparison of local living expenses. Housing calculations include U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are AI-assisted estimates based on regional cost patterns, climate, transportation, and everyday spending expectations. These values are intended for directional comparisons across cities.
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| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $95,291 | $7,941 | $2,223 | $2,859 |
| Renters | $51,897 | $4,325 | $1,211 | $1,557 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Indiana | 7% | 7% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Indiana | 3.15% | 3.15% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| West Point, IN | 101 | 96 | 4.2% |
| Montmorenci, IN | 244 | 96 | 4.2% |
| Clarks Hill, IN | 801 | 81 | 19.0% |
| Buck Creek, IN | 266 | 81 | 18.6% |
| New Richmond, IN | 467 | 82 | 18.3% |
| Lafayette, IN | 75,191 | 89 | 11.4% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Apple Valley, CA | 75,217 | 123 | 22.8% |
| South Jordan, UT | 75,278 | 136 | 36.0% |
| New Britain, CT | 74,963 | 104 | 4.4% |
| Flagstaff, AZ | 75,433 | 126 | 25.9% |
| Albany, GA | 74,905 | 88 | 12.2% |
| Lafayette, IN | 75,191 | 89 | 11.4% |
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