same $100k income, fresh start from San Diego

change
Lafayette, LA cityscape

swapping out of san diego

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

$2,083

cheaper each month than San Diego

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

54% cheaper than San Diego(vs $2,890/mo)

02state income tax

3%

$525/mo less in state tax than San Diego

vs 9.3% in San Diego

03after rent

$6,751/mo

$2,083 more than San Diego

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

04a house here

$200k

80% cheaper than San Diego

vs $1010k in San Diego

05metro size

414k

vs 3.3M in San Diego

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

211

pleasant days a year, in lafayette.

San Diego edges ahead with 332 pleasant days.

97% fewer events than San Diego. The pace eases up.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

43/100

43% lower than San Diego

vs 75/100 in San Diego

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

·walk score®

85/100

14% lower than San Diego

vs 99/100 in San Diego

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

3

95% fewer than San Diego

vs 55 nonstops in San Diego

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