Lafayette vs Peoria
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Lafayette
Peoria
The Verdict
Peoria is 18.4% less expensive than Lafayette overall. A household earning $75,000 in Lafayette would need approximately $63,333 in Peoria to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Lafayette has the same purchasing power as $63,333 in Peoria.
Conversely, $75,000 in Peoria equals $88,816 in Lafayette.
Living in Lafayette vs Peoria
Housing Costs
Lafayette's housing index of 73 is higher Peoria's 42, translating to median home prices of $214,000 vs $164,000. The $50,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,252 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,100/mo in Lafayette compared to $1,000/mo in Peoria, a monthly difference of $100.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 96 in Lafayette and 97 in Peoria. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Lafayette vs $461/month in Peoria. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Lafayette and 103 in Peoria. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Lafayette vs $412 in Peoria. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 80 in Lafayette and 107 in Peoria. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 27-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $61,900 in Lafayette and $58,700 in Peoria. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $68,778 and $77,237 respectively. Peoria residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,444/month to housing in Lafayette vs $1,370/month in Peoria. In Lafayette, median rent of $1,100/mo fits within this budget. In Peoria, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 31 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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