CostIndexUSA

Bellingham, WA vs Lafayette, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WA
Bellingham
103.3
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Lafayette
87.2
overall index
$1,325/mo rent

Lafayette is significantly cheaper than Bellingham — 15.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bellingham, you would need $67,500 in Lafayette. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−47.9%
Bellingham
112.9
Lafayette
58.8
🛒 Groceries−10.8%
Bellingham
105
Lafayette
93.7
🚗 Transportation−3.7%
Bellingham
104.4
Lafayette
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−3.8%
Bellingham
94.5
Lafayette
90.9
⚡ Utilities−28.7%
Bellingham
99.9
Lafayette
71.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Lafayette, LA
$67,500
$12,500 less needed in Lafayette

Formula: salary × (87.2 ÷ 103.3) = salary × 0.8441. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Bellingham, WA

Median Home Price
$598,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,875
Housing Index
112.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.6×

Lafayette, LA

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

Bellingham has 47.9% lower housing costs compared to Lafayette.

Income & Job Market

Bellingham, WA

Median Household Income
$74,900
Per Capita Income
$42,700
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
92,314
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyManufacturingTourism

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).

Bellingham, WA
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

70% of income left after rent (median)

Lafayette, LA
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

Bellingham vs other cities

Bellingham, WA
vs
Bremerton, WA
Index: 103.3Index: 105.6
Bellingham, WA
vs
Kennewick, WA
Index: 103.3Index: 100.1
Bellingham, WA
vs
Mount Vernon, WA
Index: 103.3Index: 102.4
Bellingham, WA
vs
Asheville, NC
Index: 103.3Index: 96.5
Bellingham, WA
vs
Redding, CA
Index: 103.3Index: 100.7

Lafayette vs other cities

Lafayette, LA
vs
Baton Rouge, LA
Index: 87.2Index: 90.8
Lafayette, LA
vs
Lake Charles, LA
Index: 87.2Index: 85.9
Lafayette, LA
vs
Monroe, LA
Index: 87.2Index: 83.6
Lafayette, LA
vs
College Station, TX
Index: 87.2Index: 91
Lafayette, LA
vs
Hartford, CT
Index: 87.2Index: 102.7

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.