Lafayette vs Wilmington
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Lafayette
Wilmington
The Verdict
Lafayette is 13.5% less expensive than Wilmington overall. A household earning $75,000 in Lafayette would need approximately $86,667 in Wilmington 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 $86,667 in Wilmington.
Conversely, $75,000 in Wilmington equals $64,904 in Lafayette.
Living in Lafayette vs Wilmington
Housing Costs
Lafayette's housing index of 73 is lower Wilmington's 104, translating to median home prices of $214,000 vs $235,000. The $21,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,368 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,100/mo in Lafayette compared to $1,200/mo in Wilmington, a monthly difference of $100.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 96 in Lafayette and 103 in Wilmington. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Lafayette vs $489/month in Wilmington. Lafayette offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Lafayette and 106 in Wilmington. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Lafayette vs $424 in Wilmington. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 80 in Lafayette and 106 in Wilmington. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 26-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 $46,520 in Wilmington. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $68,778 and $44,731 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 $1,085/month in Wilmington. In Lafayette, median rent of $1,100/mo fits within this budget. In Wilmington, median rent of $1,200/mo pushes past the recommended limit. 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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