$100k salary, packing up from Honolulu

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Lafayette, LA cityscape

from honolulu

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

$2,177

under Honolulu, every month

In Lafayette, rent stops being the headline. The cost gap shows up every month without you trying.
landable, recorded on the lafayette entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,332/mo

53% cheaper than Honolulu(vs $2,843/mo)

02state income tax

3%

$667/mo less in state tax than Honolulu

vs 11% in Honolulu

03after rent

$6,751/mo

$2,177 more than Honolulu

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

04a house here

$200k

81% cheaper than Honolulu

vs $1061k in Honolulu

05metro size

414k

vs 989k in Honolulu

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

211

pleasant days a year, in lafayette.

Honolulu edges ahead with 316 pleasant days.

Noticeably quieter than Honolulu. About 95% fewer events on a typical month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

43/100

22% lower than Honolulu

vs 55/100 in Honolulu

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

·walk score®

85/100

14% lower than Honolulu

vs 99/100 in Honolulu

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

3

94% fewer than Honolulu

vs 51 nonstops in Honolulu

04 · see also

neighbors of lafayette on the map of tradeoffs:

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