Wentzville, MO vs West Lafayette, IN: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

West Lafayette, IN has a modeled overall cost index 1.1% higher than Wentzville, MO.

Wentzville, MO · modeled 2BR rent
$1,380 / month
West Lafayette, IN · modeled 2BR rent
$1,270 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

Adjust your income and compare the budget ↓
Tap to swap

Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Wentzville, MO and West Lafayette, IN using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $89.52/month in West Lafayette, IN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $151,074 in West Lafayette, IN

Regional cost estimates: Wentzville, MO uses St. Louis, MO. West Lafayette, IN uses Indianapolis, IN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 1.1%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$89.52
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$1.1K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Wentzville, MO

Population:47K
Cost Index:
83.7
100 = national average
Typical Home:$389K

West Lafayette, IN

Population:45K
Cost Index:
84.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$353K

Planning the move to West Lafayette?

Organize packing, address changes, and moving-day tasks with a free checklist. Your progress saves in this browser. No account needed.

Plan my move with the free checklist

Wentzville, MO

The Show-Me State

47K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Missouri, this city has a population of 47K residents.

West Lafayette, IN

The Hoosier State

45K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Indiana, this city has a population of 45K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Wentzville, MO vs West Lafayette, IN

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↑ 5.3%
Wentzville, MO
$1,926
West Lafayette, IN
$2,028
Difference
$102
more
Healthcare
↑ 11.2%
Wentzville, MO
$614
West Lafayette, IN
$683
Difference
$68.65
more
All Utilities
↓ 5.6%
Wentzville, MO
$625
West Lafayette, IN
$589
Difference
$35.11
less
Groceries
↓ 2.6%
Wentzville, MO
$1,107
West Lafayette, IN
$1,078
Difference
$29.25
less
Transportation
↓ 1.2%
Wentzville, MO
$1,390
West Lafayette, IN
$1,374
Difference
$16.73
less
Other
↑ 0.0%
Wentzville, MO
$1,838
West Lafayette, IN
$1,838
Difference
$0.28
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,080
To$910
↓ $170
1 Bed
From$1,130
To$1,060
↓ $70.00
2 Bed
From$1,380
To$1,270
↓ $110
3 Bed
From$1,780
To$1,520
↓ $260
Wentzville, MOZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,130–$1,130/mo

West Lafayette, INZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,060–$1,060/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Wentzville, MO
$7,590
Monthly in West Lafayette, IN
$89.52
Difference

Home Values

Wentzville
West Lafayette
$389K
Median Value
$353K
↑ +0.1%
YoY Change
↑ +1.4%
↑ +30.8%
5-Year Change
↑ +37.5%

Homes in West Lafayette are 9% less expensive than Wentzville

Calculate payment - WentzvilleCalculate payment - West Lafayette

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $3.1K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$257
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
2.1%
Rate difference

Wentzville, MO

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Missouri State Tax
Effective: 5.3%
$7.9K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.0%
$44.9K
Take-Home Pay
$8,755/month
$105.1K

West Lafayette, IN

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Indiana State Tax
Effective: 3.2%
$4.8K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.9%
$41.9K
Take-Home Pay
$9,012/month
$108.1K

Additional Tax Information

Wentzville, MO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.0%

West Lafayette, IN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.0%
Property Tax:0.9%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Wentzville
West Lafayette
54 Moderate
Air Quality
54 Moderate
38%
Good Air Days
36.6%
99 High
Climate Risk
97 High
🌊🌡🫨
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
39 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
39 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days

Before moving from Wentzville, MO to West Lafayette, IN

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in West Lafayette, IN for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Wentzville, MO. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Wentzville to West Lafayette moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to West Lafayette, IN by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Wentzville, MO vs West Lafayette, IN

How do the cost estimates for Wentzville, MO and West Lafayette, IN compare?

West Lafayette, IN has a modeled overall cost index 1.1% higher than Wentzville, MO. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Wentzville, MO, the model estimates $151,074 in West Lafayette, IN. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Wentzville, MO and West Lafayette, IN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,380/month in Wentzville, MO and $1,270/month in West Lafayette, IN. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Missouri and Indiana on TaxTakeHome.com

Similar cost to West Lafayette, IN

Other cities in a similar price range

Raleigh, NCCharlotte, NCSan Antonio, TX

Want to compare different cities?

New Comparison