Gary, IN vs Lafayette, IN

Gary is moderately more affordable than Lafayette, with a 5.3% lower cost of living index. Gary scores 72 compared to 76 for Lafayette, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Lafayette can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Gary is $975/month compared to $1,039/month in Lafayette — a 6% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Gary is more affordable at $85,300 median vs $157,600.

Median household income in Gary is $37,380 compared to $52,946 in Lafayette (-29.4%). While Lafayette is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Gary spend roughly 31.3% of their income on rent, more than the 23.5% in Lafayette. The Lafayette ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.