$100k a year, no longer in Columbus

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Lafayette, LA cityscape

from columbus

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

$261

less monthly outlay than Columbus

Lafayette is the easier version of your monthly budget. Lower rent, lighter monthly outlay.
landable, recorded on the lafayette entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,332/mo

12% cheaper than Columbus(vs $1,511/mo)

02state income tax

3%

$82/mo less in state tax than Columbus

vs 3.99% in Columbus

03after rent

$6,751/mo

$261 more than Columbus

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

04a house here

$200k

43% cheaper than Columbus

vs $350k in Columbus

05metro size

414k

vs 2.2M in Columbus

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

211

pleasant days a year, in lafayette.

Columbus only logs 171 pleasant days.

Columbus hosts 23.2× more events.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

43/100

25% lower than Columbus

vs 57/100 in Columbus

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

·walk score®

85/100

0% lower than Columbus

vs 85/100 in Columbus

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

3

91% fewer than Columbus

vs 32 nonstops in Columbus

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