same $100k income, fresh start from Boston

change
Lafayette, LA cityscape

instead of boston

Lafayette

la · metro 414k

photo: Gage LaVergne / pexels

a dispatch from

lafayette

LA

30.22°N

92.02°W

Lafayette is the unofficial capital of Cajun country, with zydeco music spilling out of dance halls, crawfish boils that count as social events, and gumbo so dark and rich it should be served with a nap. Mardi Gras here is huge but more family-friendly than New Orleans. The food (boudin, etouffee, cracklins) is the main reason to be here. Friendly in a way that's hard to fake.

metro414k

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$1,979

lighter monthly cost than Boston

Lafayette runs on a fraction of Boston's budget. Same paycheck, real lifestyle upgrade.
landable, recorded on the lafayette entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,332/mo

58% cheaper than Boston(vs $3,145/mo)

02state income tax

3%

$167/mo less in state tax than Boston

vs 5% in Boston

03after rent

$6,751/mo

$1,979 more than Boston

gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.

04a house here

$200k

74% cheaper than Boston

vs $771k in Boston

05metro size

414k

vs 4.9M in Boston

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

211

pleasant days a year, in lafayette.

Boston barely cracks 160 pleasant ones.

Lighter on events: Boston packs 33.6× more into a month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

43/100

39% lower than Boston

vs 71/100 in Boston

Closest outdoor draw: Chicot State Park District II, 42.7 mi.

·walk score®

85/100

13% lower than Boston

vs 98/100 in Boston

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

3

97% fewer than Boston

vs 103 nonstops in Boston

04 · see also

in the same ballpark as lafayette:

see also

fayetteville

better park access

turn the page

see also

augusta

better park access

turn the page

see also

baton rouge

better park access

turn the page

compare lafayette with:

FayettevilleAugustaBaton Rouge