CostIndexUSA

Lafayette, LA vs Tampa, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

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

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

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

Category Breakdown

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

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

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Tampa, FL
$92,600
$12,600 more needed in Tampa

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×

Tampa, FL

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

Tampa 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

Tampa, FL

Median Household Income
$72,700
Per Capita Income
$41,400
Unemployment Rate
4.1%
Population
399,700
Top Industries
FinanceHealthcareTourismTechnologyLogistics

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)

Tampa, 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.