Berkeley vs Lafayette: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Berkeley, CA and Lafayette, LA, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | Lafayette, LA |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 121,385 | 121,706 |
| Median household income | $104,716 | $58,850 |
| Median home value | $1,280,300 | $234,900 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $2,067 | $1,022 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
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compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing Berkeley, CA and Lafayette, LA comes down to what you value most. Lafayette has the lower median home value, and Lafayette has the lower median rent.
Berkeley has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it cheaper to live in Berkeley or Lafayette?
- By median home value, Lafayette is the cheaper of the two ($234,900 vs $1,280,300). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Berkeley or Lafayette?
- Median household income is $104,716 in Berkeley versus $58,850 in Lafayette, per the US Census Bureau.