Lafayette vs St George
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Lafayette
St George
The Verdict
Lafayette is 18.2% less expensive than St George overall. A household earning $75,000 in Lafayette would need approximately $91,667 in St George 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 $91,667 in St George.
Conversely, $75,000 in St George equals $61,364 in Lafayette.
Living in Lafayette vs St George
Housing Costs
Lafayette's housing index of 73 is lower St George's 144, translating to median home prices of $214,000 vs $550,000. The $336,000 difference in home prices means roughly $21,840 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,100/mo in Lafayette compared to $1,525/mo in St George, a monthly difference of $425.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 96 in Lafayette and 100 in St George. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Lafayette vs $475/month in St George. 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 87 in St George. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Lafayette vs $348 in St George. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 80 in Lafayette and 96 in St George. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 16-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 $72,400 in St George. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $68,778 and $65,818 respectively. Lafayette residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,444/month to housing in Lafayette vs $1,689/month in St George. In Lafayette, median rent of $1,100/mo fits within this budget. In St George, median rent of $1,525/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 71 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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