Columbus, IN vs Lafayette, IN: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Lafayette, IN and Columbus, IN are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Columbus works out to about $75,300 in Lafayette, before taxes.
- Housing is 1.3% higher in Lafayette, goods 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,473 a month in Lafayette and $1,380 in Columbus, $1,116 a year more in Lafayette (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $283,000 in Lafayette and $274,000 in Columbus.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (0.7%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Columbus and Lafayette
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Columbus, IN
- Lafayette, IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Columbus, IN | Lafayette, IN | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 93.0 | 93.4 |
| Goods | 94.3 | 94.3 |
| Housing (rents) | 75.5 | 76.4 |
| Utilities | 86.6 | 86.4 |
| Other services | 99.1 | 99.1 |
| Category | Columbus | Lafayette | Lafayette vs Columbus |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 93.0 | 93.4 | +0.5% |
| Goods | 94.3 | 94.3 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 75.5 | 76.4 | +1.3% |
| Utilities | 86.6 | 86.4 | −0.2% |
| Other services | 99.1 | 99.1 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,380 | $1,473 | +6.7% |
| Typical home value | $274,000 | $283,000 | +3.3% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Columbus | $75,000 | $75,300 | +0.5% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Columbus and Lafayette has narrowed since 2008: 7.7 points then, 0.4 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Columbus, IN
- Lafayette, IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Columbus, IN | Lafayette, IN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 84.0 | 91.7 |
| 2009 | 86.1 | 93.4 |
| 2010 | 90.5 | 93.2 |
| 2011 | 89.0 | 91.6 |
| 2012 | 90.4 | 93.7 |
| 2013 | 88.7 | 94.0 |
| 2014 | 90.3 | 92.8 |
| 2015 | 87.6 | 92.1 |
| 2016 | 87.9 | 91.1 |
| 2017 | 87.3 | 91.3 |
| 2018 | 94.0 | 92.6 |
| 2019 | 93.8 | 93.2 |
| 2020 | 91.4 | 90.9 |
| 2021 | 91.8 | 92.4 |
| 2022 | 90.3 | 92.0 |
| 2023 | 90.2 | 91.5 |
| 2024 | 93.0 | 93.4 |
Goods
- Columbus, IN
- Lafayette, IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Columbus, IN | Lafayette, IN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 77.2 | 93.5 |
| 2009 | 84.6 | 95.0 |
| 2010 | 93.1 | 95.9 |
| 2011 | 93.4 | 95.8 |
| 2012 | 95.2 | 97.1 |
| 2013 | 94.7 | 96.9 |
| 2014 | 95.9 | 98.1 |
| 2015 | 96.1 | 97.6 |
| 2016 | 94.6 | 96.8 |
| 2017 | 94.0 | 95.3 |
| 2018 | 97.4 | 97.4 |
| 2019 | 95.7 | 95.7 |
| 2020 | 94.0 | 94.0 |
| 2021 | 94.7 | 94.7 |
| 2022 | 93.1 | 93.1 |
| 2023 | 94.8 | 94.8 |
| 2024 | 94.3 | 94.3 |
Housing (rents)
- Columbus, IN
- Lafayette, IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Columbus, IN | Lafayette, IN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 77.4 | 74.0 |
| 2009 | 70.4 | 79.7 |
| 2010 | 79.5 | 79.5 |
| 2011 | 74.8 | 76.4 |
| 2012 | 73.7 | 83.4 |
| 2013 | 70.5 | 83.0 |
| 2014 | 75.4 | 77.8 |
| 2015 | 69.0 | 78.0 |
| 2016 | 75.2 | 72.3 |
| 2017 | 73.7 | 76.3 |
| 2018 | 83.4 | 74.1 |
| 2019 | 75.8 | 75.6 |
| 2020 | 70.5 | 69.4 |
| 2021 | 70.2 | 75.3 |
| 2022 | 66.4 | 76.1 |
| 2023 | 63.1 | 71.0 |
| 2024 | 75.5 | 76.4 |
Utilities
- Columbus, IN
- Lafayette, IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Columbus, IN | Lafayette, IN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 78.3 | 86.5 |
| 2009 | 80.7 | 88.5 |
| 2010 | 81.2 | 82.4 |
| 2011 | 77.3 | 86.6 |
| 2012 | 79.1 | 86.5 |
| 2013 | 81.8 | 87.0 |
| 2014 | 82.8 | 83.9 |
| 2015 | 83.3 | 84.5 |
| 2016 | 85.0 | 82.5 |
| 2017 | 86.3 | 87.9 |
| 2018 | 92.4 | 92.3 |
| 2019 | 90.8 | 89.7 |
| 2020 | 92.1 | 91.3 |
| 2021 | 92.7 | 91.9 |
| 2022 | 88.9 | 87.9 |
| 2023 | 86.3 | 85.4 |
| 2024 | 86.6 | 86.4 |
Other services
- Columbus, IN
- Lafayette, IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Columbus, IN | Lafayette, IN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 93.6 | 98.3 |
| 2009 | 94.2 | 98.2 |
| 2010 | 93.9 | 97.6 |
| 2011 | 91.4 | 94.8 |
| 2012 | 93.8 | 95.7 |
| 2013 | 92.5 | 96.4 |
| 2014 | 92.5 | 95.5 |
| 2015 | 88.9 | 93.7 |
| 2016 | 88.0 | 94.5 |
| 2017 | 87.5 | 93.7 |
| 2018 | 96.1 | 96.1 |
| 2019 | 98.4 | 98.4 |
| 2020 | 97.5 | 97.5 |
| 2021 | 97.8 | 97.8 |
| 2022 | 97.5 | 97.5 |
| 2023 | 97.3 | 97.3 |
| 2024 | 99.1 | 99.1 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,473 in Lafayette vs $1,380 in Columbus
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Columbus, IN
- Lafayette, IN
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Columbus, IN | Lafayette, IN | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | $846 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | $846 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | $847 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | $839 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | – | $860 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | – | $847 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | – | $867 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | – | $877 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | – | $886 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | – | $895 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | – | $893 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | – | $896 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | – | $912 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $914 | $928 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $911 | $927 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $927 | $943 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $932 | $943 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $944 | $978 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $962 | $976 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $936 | $971 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $949 | $990 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $944 | $1,000 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $977 | $1,018 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $995 | $1,022 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $963 | $1,035 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $995 | $1,052 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,070 | $1,099 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,081 | $1,094 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,097 | $1,130 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,150 | $1,183 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,147 | $1,222 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,160 | $1,242 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,165 | $1,254 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,186 | $1,300 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,201 | $1,330 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,208 | $1,348 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,234 | $1,352 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,262 | $1,373 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,269 | $1,415 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,289 | $1,392 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,297 | $1,404 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,326 | $1,428 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,346 | $1,444 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,340 | $1,453 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,324 | $1,450 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,372 | $1,461 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,380 | $1,473 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $283,000 in Lafayette vs $274,000 in Columbus
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Columbus, IN
- Lafayette, IN
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Columbus, IN | Lafayette, IN | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $140K | $131K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $141K | $132K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $144K | $134K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $146K | $135K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $147K | $137K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $149K | $140K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $149K | $141K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $150K | $144K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $150K | $146K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $152K | $148K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $155K | $151K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $156K | $153K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $158K | $156K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $160K | $158K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $163K | $160K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $165K | $162K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $169K | $166K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $172K | $169K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $174K | $172K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $178K | $175K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $181K | $179K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $184K | $183K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $186K | $185K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $192K | $192K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $197K | $198K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $206K | $208K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $212K | $216K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $217K | $221K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $225K | $229K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $233K | $238K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $234K | $237K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $235K | $235K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $238K | $236K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $244K | $243K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $248K | $249K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $250K | $252K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $254K | $258K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $258K | $264K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $259K | $266K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $261K | $270K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $264K | $274K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $265K | $274K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $267K | $275K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $270K | $278K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $273K | $280K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $273K | $281K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $274K | $283K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.