Cost of Living Comparison Between Lafayette, LA and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Lafayette, LA and Austin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,352 in Lafayette, LA versus $2,732 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,625 in Lafayette, LA versus $4,139 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,898 in Lafayette, LA versus $5,545 in Austin, TX.

Living in Lafayette, LA costs roughly 14% less than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lafayette, LA 77% above, Austin, TX 105% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.71 $19.71

$19.47 $19.47

1.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.3 $98.3

$75.4 $75.4

30.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 $9.89

Cappuccino

$5.18 $5.18

$5.49 $5.49

-5.65%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.69 $2.69

-6.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 $1.88

$2.13 $2.13

-11.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.91 $3.91

$5.91 $5.91

-33.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.60 $6.60

$7.87 $7.87

-16.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.15 $1.15

2.61%

White Bread (500g)

$3.03 $3.03

$3.34 $3.34

-9.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$3.48 $3.48

42.53%

Eggs

$4.53 $4.53

$4.42 $4.42

2.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.38 $10.38

$11.79 $11.79

-11.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.19 $11.19

$10.65 $10.65

5.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.38 $14.38

$14.80 $14.80

-2.84%

Apples (1kg)

$4.81 $4.81

$4.79 $4.79

0.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.57 $1.57

-8.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.89 $4.89

$4.37 $4.37

11.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.13 $5.13

$4.01 $4.01

27.93%

Potato (1kg)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.71 $2.71

-7.01%

Onion (1kg)

$2.99 $2.99

$2.84 $2.84

5.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.74 $1.74

$2.03 $2.03

-14.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.25 $2.25

23.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.85 $7.85

$8.78 $8.78

-10.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.01 $17.01

$15.03 $15.03

13.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$2.28 $2.28

-7.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.47 $3.47

0.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.53 $1.53

-16.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.99 $43.99

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.96 $2.96

$4.30 $4.30

-31.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.82 $1.82

-43.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.54 $34.54

$35.23 $35.23

-1.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 $0.76

$0.73 $0.73

4.11%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.7K $34.7K

$25.9K $25.9K

34.26%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.3K $28.3K

$26.5K $26.5K

6.65%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$238 $238

$172 $172

37.88%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$51.6 $51.6

$58.4 $58.4

-11.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.7 $68.7

$66.1 $66.1

3.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.4 $60.4

$63.6 $63.6

-4.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.43 $22.43

$10.15 $10.15

120.99%

Cinema Ticket

$11.82 $11.82

$15.05 $15.05

-21.46%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,574 $1,574

$1,399 $1,399

12.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.3K $10.3K

$22.0K $22.0K

-53.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 $51.7

$56.6 $56.6

-8.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.51 $41.51

$46.66 $46.66

-11.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.6 $75.6

$86.4 $86.4

-12.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$119 $119

-5.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,213 $1,213

$2,228 $2,228

-45.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,083 $1,083

$1,399 $1,399

-22.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,762 $1,762

$3,821 $3,821

-53.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,850 $1,850

$2,648 $2,648

-30.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,158 $2,158

$7,237 $7,237

-70.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,058 $2,058

$3,127 $3,127

-34.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,314 $3,314

$5,009 $5,009

-33.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.57

6.45

1.86%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lafayette, LA: July 28, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,213 in Lafayette, LA and $2,228 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 51% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $98.0 in Lafayette, LA vs $75.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $394 vs $378 per month, with Austin, TX cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Lafayette, LA vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lafayette, LA wins on cost – living expenses run 16% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lafayette, LA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 51% lower in Austin, TX. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,213 in Lafayette, LA versus $2,228 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,574 in Lafayette, LA versus $1,399 in Austin, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Lafayette, LA – a meal for two runs $98.0 versus $75.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,352 in Lafayette, LA versus $2,732 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lafayette, LA but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Lafayette, LA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Lafayette, LA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.