salaryRent is higher than in 74% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 5.3 years of household income. It is a highly educated city: 63.5% of adults have a college degree.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $85,120 a year. That is $41 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other Colorado cities?
No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Colorado. It is number 63 of 112 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Lafayette?
Share of households by yearly income. 47.9% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Lafayette
| Size | Lafayette | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,868 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,918 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,185 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,583 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,948 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Lafayette overall?
Everyday prices in Colorado overall are 3% above the U.S. average (index 103.1, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Lafayette, so the Colorado figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Lafayette
Life in Lafayette
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Lafayette?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $2,635 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $686,500 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $68,650 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Lafayette, CO?
Renting in Lafayette costs a median of about $2,128 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Colorado median is $2,080.
How much do I need to make to live in Lafayette?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $85,120 a year, or $41 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Lafayette cheap or expensive?
Lafayette is rated Cheap: rent takes 19.9% of the typical household income of $128,385. It ranks 63rd cheapest of 112 Colorado cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Lafayette?
The median homeowner in Lafayette pays $3,258 a year in property taxes, about 0.47% of the median home value.
Is Lafayette more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in Colorado are 3% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Lafayette?
The median home value in Lafayette is $686,500, about 5.3 times the typical yearly household income.
30,602 people live in Lafayette. Numbers are typical (middle) values.