Lafayette vs Vienna
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Lafayette
Vienna
The Verdict
Living in Vienna costs 2.3% less than Lafayette. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Lafayette, you would need $73,333 in Vienna.
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 $73,333 in Vienna.
Conversely, $75,000 in Vienna equals $76,705 in Lafayette.
Living in Lafayette vs Vienna
Housing Costs
Lafayette's housing index of 73 is lower Vienna's 105, translating to median home prices of $214,000 vs $395,000. The $181,000 difference in home prices means roughly $11,760 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,100/mo in Lafayette compared to $1,275/mo in Vienna, a monthly difference of $175.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 96 in Lafayette and 85 in Vienna. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Lafayette vs $404/month in Vienna. Vienna offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $624/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Lafayette and 98 in Vienna. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Lafayette vs $392 in Vienna. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 80 in Lafayette and 82 in Vienna. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $61,900 in Lafayette and $48,000 in Vienna. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $68,778 and $54,545 respectively. Lafayette residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,444/month to housing in Lafayette vs $1,120/month in Vienna. In Lafayette, median rent of $1,100/mo fits within this budget. In Vienna, median rent of $1,275/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 32 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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