Cost of Living: Santa Clara, CA vs Lafayette, LA (2026)

Santa Clara

California
307
VS

Lafayette

Louisiana
77

Santa Clara is 299% more expensive than Lafayette.

$2,985/mo ↑ 180%
Median Rent
$1,065/mo ↓ 64%
$173,670/yr ↑ 183%
Median Income
$61,454/yr ↓ 65%
$1,527,900 ↑ 508%
Home Value
$251,300 ↓ 84%
$3,051/mo ↑ 189%
Owner Costs
$1,057/mo ↓ 65%
129,239
Population
121,537

Tax Comparison

13.3%
Income Tax
4.25%
7.25%
State Sales Tax
4.45%
0.71%
Property Tax
0.55%

Affordability

20.6%
rent-to-income
Affordability
20.8%
rent-to-income

Detailed Comparison

When comparing Santa Clara, CA and Lafayette, LA, the overall cost of living indices are 307 and 77 respectively (national median = 100). Rent is $1,920/month cheaper in Lafayette, saving renters about $23,040/year.

Median household income is $112,216/year higher in Santa Clara. Home values also differ significantly — the median in Santa Clara is $1,527,900 compared to $251,300 in Lafayette.

Louisiana has a lower income tax rate, making Lafayette slightly more tax-friendly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Santa Clara vs Lafayette — common questions

Is Santa Clara or Lafayette cheaper to live in?
Based on our cost index, Lafayette is cheaper to live in with an index of 77 compared to 307 (US average = 100).
What is the rent difference between Santa Clara and Lafayette?
Median rent in Santa Clara is $2,985/month and in Lafayette it's $1,065/month — a difference of $1,920/month.
Which city has higher income, Santa Clara or Lafayette?
Median household income is $173,670 in Santa Clara and $61,454 in Lafayette. Median household income is $112,216/year higher in Santa Clara.
How do taxes compare between California and Louisiana?
California has 13.3% income tax, 7.25% sales tax, and 0.71% property tax. Louisiana has 4.25% income tax, 4.45% sales tax, and 0.55% property tax.
Should I move to Santa Clara or Lafayette?
It depends on your priorities. Santa Clara has a cost index of 307 with median rent of $2,985/mo, while Lafayette has a cost index of 77 with rent of $1,065/mo. Consider income potential, tax burden, and lifestyle preferences alongside raw cost data.
View Santa Clara details → View Lafayette details →

More Comparisons

Other cost of living comparisons for Santa Clara and Lafayette

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