City Comparison

Lafayette vs Roswell

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Lafayette

Louisiana
90
Below Average
$214,000
Median Home
$1,100/mo
Median Rent
$61,900
Median Income

Roswell

Georgia
113
Above Average
$647,000
Median Home
$1,700/mo
Median Rent
$108,800
Median Income

The Verdict

20.4%

Lafayette is 20.4% less expensive than Roswell overall. A household earning $75,000 in Lafayette would need approximately $94,167 in Roswell to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
73
Lafayette
187
Roswell
Groceries
96
Lafayette
101
Roswell
Utilities
97
Lafayette
98
Roswell
Transportation
96
Lafayette
110
Roswell
Healthcare
80
Lafayette
103
Roswell

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Lafayette has the same purchasing power as $94,167 in Roswell.

Conversely, $75,000 in Roswell equals $59,735 in Lafayette.

Living in Lafayette vs Roswell

Housing Costs

Lafayette's housing index of 73 is lower Roswell's 187, translating to median home prices of $214,000 vs $647,000. The $433,000 difference in home prices means roughly $28,140 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,100/mo in Lafayette compared to $1,700/mo in Roswell, a monthly difference of $600.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Lafayette and 101 in Roswell. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Lafayette vs $480/month in Roswell. 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 98 in Roswell. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Lafayette vs $392 in Roswell. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 80 in Lafayette and 103 in Roswell. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 23-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 $108,800 in Roswell. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $68,778 and $96,283 respectively. Roswell 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 $2,539/month in Roswell. In Lafayette, median rent of $1,100/mo fits within this budget. In Roswell, median rent of $1,700/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 114 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Lafayette is 20.4% more affordable overall with an index of 90 vs 113.
A $75,000 salary in Lafayette has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $94,167 in Roswell, based on the cost of living difference.
Lafayette's housing index is 73 with median homes at $214,000, while Roswell's is 187 with median homes at $647,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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