Lafayette-West Lafayette cost of living
Prices in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro area run at 93.4 against a national average of 100, ranking it #199 of 387 metros. Rents there sit at 76.4.
What drives the number
Prices in Lafayette-West Lafayette run at 93.4 where the national average is 100, so about 6.6 per cent below the country as a whole. It ranks #199 of 387 metro areas. It is priced almost exactly like Indiana as a whole, which is unusual for a metro area.
Housing is unusually cheap relative to everything else here. Rents sit at 76.4 against goods at 94.3 and other services at 86.4, so the overall figure of 93.4 understates how affordable the housing itself is. That combination, ordinary prices with cheap rent, is what people are usually looking for and rarely find. Goods at 94.3 are themselves 5.7 points off national, which is a wide gap for a category that is mostly shipped in.
A salary here goes further than the same salary somewhere at 100. Divide by 93.4 and multiply by 100 to get the nationally comparable figure, and it will come out higher than the headline.
The vertical line is the national average of 100. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, SARPP, 2024.
What the biggest local jobs are really worth
The same pay buys different amounts in different places, so a salary quoted in Lafayette-West Lafayette is not comparable to one quoted elsewhere until it is divided by the local parity. These are the occupations that employ the most people here, with the quoted median alongside what that median is worth at national prices.
| Occupation | Employed | Median pay | Worth nationally | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 4,310 | $27,400 | $29,336 | $30,480 |
| Retail Salespersons | 2,590 | $29,480 | $31,563 | $34,580 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 2,350 | $37,540 | $40,193 | $38,940 |
| Office Clerks, General | 2,340 | $41,740 | $44,690 | $43,630 |
| Cashiers | 1,980 | $28,450 | $30,460 | $31,190 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 1,930 | $35,740 | $38,266 | $35,930 |
| Registered Nurses | 1,900 | $77,340 | $82,805 | $93,600 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 1,740 | $34,180 | $36,595 | $34,900 |
Pay from the BLS metro survey, adjusted by dividing by the metro parity of 93.4.
Nearby metro areas
| Metro area | All items | Rents | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | 103.6 | 112.0 | #40 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | 95.7 | 88.9 | #152 |
| Cincinnati | 95.4 | 87.6 | #160 |
| Bloomington | 95.1 | 85.6 | #165 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County | 93.1 | 78.6 | #208 |
| Columbus | 93.0 | 75.5 | #209 |
Lafayette-West Lafayette: common questions
Is Lafayette-West Lafayette expensive?
Prices are 6.6% below the national average, a parity of 93.4 where the country is 100. It ranks #199 of the 387 metro areas BEA measures. Against Indiana as a whole it is 0.1 points more expensive.
What salary do you need in Lafayette-West Lafayette?
The median worker there earns $47,070, which buys what $50,396 buys nationally once local prices are taken into account. Comparing a salary offer between cities without this adjustment is comparing nothing useful.
Is housing the reason?
Usually. Rents here are at 76.4 against goods at 94.3. Goods barely vary between American cities because most are shipped and priced nationally; housing varies enormously, and it dominates any cost of living comparison.