What is the cost of living in Lafayette, IN?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Lafayette has an overall cost of living index of 88, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Indiana, Lafayette has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Indiana's index of 90.
The standard of living in Lafayette ranks as #54 most affordable out of the 129 places we measured in Indiana. By definition, that implies Lafayette ranks as the #75 most expensive place in the Hoosier State.
For more reading on life in Lafayette, check out:
Lafayette Cost Of Living Vs. Indiana
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Lafayette. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Lafayette is 99.
The Groceries index in Lafayette is 96.
The Health index in Lafayette is 73.
The Housing index in Lafayette is 96.
The Transportation index in Lafayette is 96.
The Utilities index in Lafayette is 95.
| Living Expense | Lafayette | Indiana | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 88 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 73 | 72 | 100 |
| Housing | 96 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 96 | 94 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 96 | 100 |
Lafayette Cost Of Living Compared To Indiana Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Indiana, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Lafayette Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Lafayette, IN Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Indiana, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Lafayette is $262,730.
The Median Rent in Lafayette is $1,079.
The Median Income in Lafayette is $53,716.
The Home Value To Income in Lafayette is 4.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Lafayette is 0.24x.
Lafayette, IN Costs By Category
Detailed Lafayette Services costs vs. Indiana
Detailed Lafayette Groceries costs vs. Indiana
Detailed Lafayette Health costs vs. Indiana
Detailed Lafayette Transportation costs vs. Indiana
Lafayette SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Lafayette
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Lafayette. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Carmel, IN has a cost of living index of 117, 1.3x Lafayette.
Westfield, IN has a cost of living index of 112, 1.3x Lafayette.
West Lafayette, IN has a cost of living index of 104, 1.2x Lafayette.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Lafayette |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carmel, IN | 101,651 | 117 | 1.3x |
| Westfield, IN | 54,677 | 112 | 1.3x |
| West Lafayette, IN | 45,159 | 104 | 1.2x |
| Zionsville, IN | 32,095 | 122 | 1.4x |
| Brownsburg, IN | 31,215 | 102 | 1.2x |
| Crawfordsville, IN | 16,491 | 86 | 1.0x |
| Frankfort, IN | 15,917 | 86 | 1.0x |
| Danville, IN | 11,714 | 95 | 1.1x |
| Monticello, IN | 5,496 | 86 | 1.0x |
