La Crosse, WI Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2023-11-15

Cost Of Living In La Crosse, WI Summary

Cost of living in La Crosse research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means La Crosse is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Wisconsin, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in La Crosse is 91, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in La Crosse is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • La Crosse ranks as the #39 cheapest in Wisconsin out of 143.

  • La Crosse ranks as the #1,804 cheapest out of 6,412 in the US.

  • The median home value in La Crosse is $161,200.

  • The median income in La Crosse is $47,067.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
91
La Crosse's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in La Crosse, WI?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, La Crosse has an overall cost of living index of 91, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Wisconsin, La Crosse has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Wisconsin's index of 95.

The standard of living in La Crosse ranks as #39 most affordable out of the 143 places we measured in Wisconsin. By definition, that implies La Crosse ranks as the #104 most expensive place in the Badger State.

For more reading on life in La Crosse, check out:

39 out of 143
In Wisconsin
1,804 out of 6,412
In America

La Crosse Cost Of Living Vs. Wisconsin

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in La Crosse. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in La Crosse is 100.

  • The Groceries index in La Crosse is 96.

  • The Health index in La Crosse is 112.

  • The Housing index in La Crosse is 72.

  • The Transportation index in La Crosse is 101.

  • The Utilities index in La Crosse is 104.

Living Expense La Crosse Wisconsin National Average
Overall 91 95 100
Services 100 97 100
Groceries 96 98 100
Health 112 114 100
Housing 72 84 100
Transportation 101 96 100
Utilities 104 103 100
For more reading on cost of living around Wisconsin, check out:
La Crosse Cost of Living Vs. WI

La Crosse, WI Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Wisconsin, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2017-2021. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in La Crosse is $161,200.

  • The Median Rent in La Crosse is $873.

  • The Median Income in La Crosse is $47,067.

  • The Home Value To Income in La Crosse is 3.4x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in La Crosse is 0.22x.

Statistic La Crosse Wisconsin United States
Median Home Value $161,200 $200,400 $244,900
Median Rent $873 $916 $1,163
Median Income $47,067 $67,080 $69,021
Home Value To Income 3.4x 3.0x 3.5x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.22x 0.16x 0.2x
Search Homes For Sale In La Crosse, WI
$161,200
Median Home Value
$873
Median Rent
$47,067
Median Income

La Crosse, WI Costs By Category

Detailed La Crosse Services Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item La Crosse Wisconsin
Shampoo $1.15 $1.06
Movie $8.13 $10.68
Bowling $14.67 $14.67
Haircut $18.29 $18.62
Beauty Salon $36.11 $39.05

Detailed La Crosse Groceries Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item La Crosse Wisconsin
Ground Beef $3.82 $4.22
Fried Chicken $1.73 $1.39
Milk $1.75 $2.05
Potatoes $2.42 $3.29
Pizza $12.22 $10.62
Beer $8.33 $9.38
Toothpaste $2.71 $2.34

Detailed La Crosse Health Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item La Crosse Wisconsin
Optometrist $117.84 $108.57
Doctor $170.77 $116.17
Dentist $96.35 $99.13

Detailed La Crosse Transportation Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item La Crosse Wisconsin
Gasoline $2.16 $2.22
Tire Balancing $56.15 $50.07

Detailed La Crosse Utilities Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item La Crosse Wisconsin
All Electricity $187.42 $167.67
Phone $179.44 $175.64

La Crosse SnackAbility

7
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
7/10
Housing
6
Affordability
6
Diversity
6
Safety
5
Amenities
9
Education
8.5
Commute
9.5

Cost Of Living In Cities Around La Crosse

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around La Crosse. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Winona, MN has a cost of living index of 94, 1.0x La Crosse.

  • Onalaska, WI has a cost of living index of 98, 1.1x La Crosse.

  • Holmen, WI has a cost of living index of 100, 1.1x La Crosse.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. La Crosse
Winona, MN 26,199 94 1.0x
Onalaska, WI 18,760 98 1.1x
Holmen, WI 10,613 100 1.1x
Sparta, WI 9,955 85 0.9x
Tomah, WI 9,515 87 1.0x
Decorah, IA 7,767 88 1.0x
La Crescent, MN 5,333 96 1.1x
West Salem, WI 5,225 99 1.1x

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