on $100k a year, leaving San Luis Obispo

change
Lafayette, LA cityscape

instead of san luis obispo

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

$2,288

under San Luis Obispo, every month

Lafayette is the kind of cheap that changes the math. Same salary, a different life on the other side.
landable, recorded on the lafayette entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,332/mo

57% cheaper than San Luis Obispo(vs $3,095/mo)

02state income tax

3%

$525/mo less in state tax than San Luis Obispo

vs 9.3% in San Luis Obispo

03after rent

$6,751/mo

$2,288 more than San Luis Obispo

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

04a house here

$200k

79% cheaper than San Luis Obispo

vs $934k in San Luis Obispo

05metro size

414k

vs 282k in San Luis Obispo

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

211

pleasant days a year, in lafayette.

San Luis Obispo edges ahead with 303 pleasant days.

50% fewer events than San Luis Obispo. The pace eases up.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

43/100

37% lower than San Luis Obispo

vs 68/100 in San Luis Obispo

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

·walk score®

85/100

13% lower than San Luis Obispo

vs 98/100 in San Luis Obispo

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

3

0% fewer than San Luis Obispo

vs 3 nonstops in San Luis Obispo

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