Lafayette Parish, LA at a glance
Median household income
$67,451$5,621 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Lafayette Parish, LA?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Lafayette Parish, LA? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Lafayette, LA HUD Metro FMR Area, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $779 | $9,348 | $31,160 | 13.9% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $898 | $10,776 | $35,920 | 16% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,019 | $12,228 | $40,760 | 18.1% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,301 | $15,612 | $52,040 | 23.1% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,581 | $18,972 | $63,240 | 28.1% |
Rent in Lafayette Parish, LA, with the wage each unit needs →
What a typical income covers in Lafayette Parish, LA
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $67,451 a year ($5,621 a month before tax).
What $67,451 leaves after Louisiana taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Louisiana tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Louisiana
Living in Lafayette Parish, LA: common questions
What is the median household income in Lafayette Parish, LA?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Lafayette Parish, LA is $67,451 per year (approximately $5,621 per month).
What is the average rent in Lafayette Parish, LA?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $779 for a studio, $898 for one bedroom, $1,019 for two, $1,301 for three and $1,581 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Lafayette Parish, LA expensive to live in?
Prices there run 12.8% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 87.2, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Lafayette Parish, LA?
To keep a $1,019 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $40,760 a year, or $3,397 a month. That is 60% of what the typical household in Lafayette Parish, LA earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Lafayette Parish, LA?
On the local median income of $67,451 ($5,621 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,810 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,686 for everything else and $1,124 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,019 takes 36% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Lafayette Parish, LA?
Homes in Louisiana paid 13.5¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $121. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.