CostIndexUSA

Lafayette, LA vs St. Petersburg, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableLA
Lafayette
87.2
overall index
$1,325/mo rent
FL
St. Petersburg
100.9
overall index
$1,975/mo rent

Lafayette is significantly cheaper than St. Petersburg — 15.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Lafayette, you would need $92,600 in St. Petersburg. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+113.9%
Lafayette
58.8
St. Petersburg
125.8
🛒 Groceries+1.9%
Lafayette
93.7
St. Petersburg
95.5
🚗 Transportation+1.9%
Lafayette
100.5
St. Petersburg
102.4
🏥 Healthcare+2.0%
Lafayette
90.9
St. Petersburg
92.7
Utilities+24.3%
Lafayette
71.2
St. Petersburg
88.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in St. Petersburg, FL
$92,600
$12,600 more needed in St. Petersburg

Formula: salary × (100.9 ÷ 87.2) = salary × 1.1571. 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×

St. Petersburg, FL

Median Home Price
$352,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,975
Housing Index
125.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.9×

St. Petersburg has 113.9% 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

St. Petersburg, FL

Median Household Income
$72,700
Per Capita Income
$41,400
Unemployment Rate
4.1%
Population
258,308
Top Industries
HealthcareFinanceTourismTechnologyRetail

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)

St. Petersburg, FL
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

67% 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.