CostIndexUSA

Fort Wayne, IN vs Lafayette, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

IN
Fort Wayne
92.6
overall index
$1,150/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Lafayette
87.2
overall index
$1,325/mo rent

Lafayette is moderately cheaper than Fort Wayne — 5.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fort Wayne, you would need $75,300 in Lafayette. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−18.7%
Fort Wayne
72.3
Lafayette
58.8
🛒 Groceries−0.6%
Fort Wayne
94.3
Lafayette
93.7
🚗 Transportation−3.5%
Fort Wayne
104.1
Lafayette
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−3.5%
Fort Wayne
94.2
Lafayette
90.9
⚡ Utilities−17.4%
Fort Wayne
86.2
Lafayette
71.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Lafayette, LA
$75,300
$4,700 less needed in Lafayette

Formula: salary × (87.2 ÷ 92.6) = salary × 0.9417. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Fort Wayne, IN

Median Home Price
$245,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,150
Housing Index
72.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.8×

Lafayette, LA

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

Fort Wayne has 18.7% lower housing costs compared to Lafayette.

Income & Job Market

Fort Wayne, IN

Median Household Income
$66,300
Per Capita Income
$37,800
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
270,402
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingFinanceRetailGovernment

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).

Fort Wayne, IN
4.8×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Lafayette, LA
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

Fort Wayne vs other cities

Fort Wayne, IN
vs
Bloomington, IN
Index: 92.6Index: 95.1
Fort Wayne, IN
vs
Evansville, IN
Index: 92.6Index: 91.5
Fort Wayne, IN
vs
Indianapolis, IN
Index: 92.6Index: 95.7
Fort Wayne, IN
vs
Toledo, OH
Index: 92.6Index: 91.5
Fort Wayne, IN
vs
Madison, WI
Index: 92.6Index: 97.3

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.