Uprootmap
Lafayette vs Monroe
Lafayette and Monroe
Photo: TheLionHasSeen / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Monroe are above the US rate in this release, 15.3 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Lafayette to Monroe
In 2022-2023, 33 households filed a move from Lafayette to Monroe (about 55 people, average adjusted gross income $35,455). 39 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,052 in Lafayette and $860 in Monroe. Lafayette has a state tax on wages. Monroe has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Monroe is 85% of the national level for the same work, against 91% in Lafayette.
Monroe averages 217 sunny days, with July highs around 92°F and January nights around 40°F. Lafayette is 231 sunny days, 91°F in July, 46°F in January. Commutes average 24 minutes in Monroe and 25 in Lafayette.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 33 households moved Lafayette → Monroe (about 55 people, average AGI $35,455). 39 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Lafayette and Monroe changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 221 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,750–$3,300
- Container or pod
- $1,200–$2,250
- Rent a truck
- $500–$900
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Dig into Monroe
Questions
Is Monroe cheaper than Lafayette after tax and rent?
Yes. Monroe leaves about $179 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,052 in Lafayette and $860 in Monroe.
Does Monroe have state income tax?
Monroe is in Louisiana, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Lafayette to Monroe?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.