on $100k a year, leaving Salinas

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Lafayette, LA cityscape

from salinas

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

$2,006

lighter monthly cost than Salinas

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

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,332/mo

53% cheaper than Salinas(vs $2,813/mo)

02state income tax

3%

$525/mo less in state tax than Salinas

vs 9.3% in Salinas

03after rent

$6,751/mo

$2,006 more than Salinas

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

04a house here

$200k

77% cheaper than Salinas

vs $862k in Salinas

05metro size

414k

vs 431k in Salinas

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

211

pleasant days a year, in lafayette.

Salinas edges ahead with 335 pleasant days.

·outdoorscore

43/100

39% lower than Salinas

vs 71/100 in Salinas

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

·walk score®

85/100

8% higher than Salinas

vs 79/100 in Salinas

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

3

50% fewer than Salinas

vs 6 nonstops in Salinas

04 · see also

cities that play in lafayette's register:

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