A
4%
Overall NAT. AVG.
3%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
17%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index La Crosse Wisconsin National
Cost of living9696100
Goods & Services10397100
Groceries9799100
Health care110112100
Housing8388100
Transportation9998100
Utilities101102100

An Overview of Cost of Living in La Crosse, WI

Getting a feel for the cost of living in La Crosse is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in La Crosse is 96, which is 4% lower than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.

The cost of living in La Crosse closely mirrors the national average in comparison to other cities nationwide. Essential items such as groceries, goods and services, health care and utilities are priced at a level consistent with similar urban areas. This means that residents of La Crosse can anticipate that their daily expenses will remain reasonably in line with those of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.

Is La Crosse Affordable?

Is La Crosse affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take La Crosse, for instance, where the median home price falls 18.5% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 13.6% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with La Crosse flaunting a median household income of $46,438, 16.1% lower than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in La Crosse?

Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In La Crosse, the groceries index is 2.7% lower than the national average.

Taxes: Cities that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an escalated cost of living. The added expense of taxes on everyday goods like clothing and food naturally results in higher overall costs. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can further elevate the cost of living. In La Crosse, the general sales tax rate starts at 5%, and income tax rates begin at 3.54%.

Healthcare: The costs associated with healthcare and insurance premiums can exhibit notable disparities based on the city or state of residence. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for medical appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs and specialized medical care expenses all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In La Crosse, healthcare costs are 9.6% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The La Crosse cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in La Crosse is equal to the Wisconsin average
  • The cost of living in La Crosse is 4% lower than the national average
  • La Crosse housing is 17% lower than the national average
  • Wisconsin general sales tax is 2% lower than the national average
  • Wisconsin state income tax is 36% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around La Crosse

See all the best places to live around La Crosse

Compare La Crosse, WI Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$68,420$5,702$1,596$2,053
      Renters$32,824$2,735$766$985
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in La Crosse is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. La Crosse has a median income of about $68,420 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $1,596 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $32,824. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $766 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      Wisconsin Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Wisconsin 5% 6.75%

      Wisconsin Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Wisconsin 3.54% 7.65%

      Goods & Services

      Item La Crosse National avg. Difference
      Haircut $20.83$24.2614.1%
      Beauty Salon $39.17$45.5614.0%
      Toothpaste $3.67$3.701.0%
      Shampoo $1.23$1.283.7%
      Movie $10.00$12.1317.6%
      Bowling $15.67$18.0013.0%

      Groceries

      Item La Crosse National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.94$5.841.8%
      Fried Chicken $1.61$1.572.6%
      Milk $4.58$4.672.0%
      Potatoes $4.49$4.939.0%
      Pizza $12.29$12.091.7%
      Beer $8.47$10.4118.6%

      Health Care

      Item La Crosse National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $125.00$125.680.5%
      Doctor $179.67$135.7832.3%
      Dentist $107.33$113.295.3%
      Ibuprofen $10.27$10.653.6%
      Lipitor $538.52$468.6014.9%

      Housing

      Item La Crosse National avg. Difference
      Home Price $150,500.00$184,700.0018.5%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,958.05$2,346.6916.6%
      Apartment Rent $820.00$949.0013.6%

      Transportation

      Item La Crosse National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.36$3.462.8%
      Tire Balancing $62.89$59.925.0%

      Utilities

      Item La Crosse National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $193.62$193.990.2%
      Phone $197.22$192.252.6%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Caledonia, MN2,7599010.1%
      Brownsville, MN689909.7%
      Chaseburg, WI334927.7%
      Hokah, MN592937.5%
      Coon Valley, WI9378614.0%
      La Crosse, WI51,543964.2%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Burien, WA51,58814039.8%
      Perth Amboy, NJ51,58911919.4%
      Coeur d'Alene, ID51,49111514.6%
      Kentwood, MI51,780946.0%
      Levittown, NY51,26614646.5%
      La Crosse, WI51,543964.2%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.