Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Lafayette, LA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 30% of gross income.

Lafayette rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Louisiana state estimate).

Lafayette median rent
$1,324/mo
Carpenter salary (Louisiana)
$53,018/yr
Rent as % of income
30%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,418, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,325/mo in rent. Lafayette's median rent of $1,324 leaves roughly $1/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 51.9 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a carpenter salary

Carpenter pay sits modestly above the US median household income and covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost metros. Union carpenters in high-cost cities often earn well above the BLS mean. At the national-average carpenter salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,524 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Louisiana cities have lower median rent than Lafayette, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Baton Rouge, LA
$1,320/mo (29.9% of income)
Leesville, LA
$1,319/mo (29.9% of income)
Eden Isle, LA
$1,319/mo (29.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lafayette

View full rent data for Lafayette, LA

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Lafayette, LA?

Median rent in Lafayette is $1,324 a month. A typical carpenter in Louisiana earns about $53,018 a year, which makes that rent 30% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Lafayette?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Louisiana (~$53,018/yr) supports up to $1,325 a month in rent. Lafayette's current median rent is $1,324/mo, which leaves a $1/mo buffer.

How many hours does a carpenter work to cover rent in Lafayette?

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a carpenter in Louisiana works roughly 51.9 hours a month to cover Lafayette's median rent of $1,324.

Where is rent cheaper than Lafayette for a carpenter?

Nearby Louisiana cities with lower median rent include Baton Rouge ($1,320/mo), Leesville ($1,319/mo), Eden Isle ($1,319/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Louisiana state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Lafayette, LA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.