Cost of Living in La Crosse, WI
La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in La Crosse, WI to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
Prices in La Crosse, WI vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 91.8 | −8.2% |
| Housing | 69.4 | −30.6% |
| Goods | 93.8 | −6.2% |
| Utilities | 89.5 | −10.5% |
| Other services | 99.4 | −0.6% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in La Crosse, WI
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $780 | $31,200/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $866 | $34,640/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,131 | $45,240/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,462 | $58,480/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,827 | $73,080/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Take-home pay in La Crosse, WI
- Federal income tax$3,611
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,992
- Medicare (1.45%)$700
- Wisconsin income tax$1,342
- Take-home pay$39,615
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Highest-paying jobs in La Crosse, WI
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Frequently asked questions
Is La Crosse, WI expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area are 91.8% of the U.S. average, with housing at 69.4%. It is the #250 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in La Crosse, WI?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $55,061 in La Crosse, WI (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $48,260.
How much is rent in La Crosse, WI?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for La Crosse, WI are $780 for a studio, $866 for one bedroom, $1,131 for two bedrooms and $1,462 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
All salaries in La Crosse, WI
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $102,670
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Project Management Specialist — $94,990
- Accountant and Auditor — $76,680
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $62,740
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $62,210
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $60,690
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $38,710
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $98,370
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Medical Assistant — $47,960
- Nursing Assistant — $43,510
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $37,140
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,460
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,260
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,900
- Waiter and Waitress — $28,380
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,280
- Bartender — $23,130
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $37,810
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $36,130
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $35,920
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $62,110
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $61,430
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $48,760
- Retail Salesperson — $34,090
- Cashier — $30,900
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $66,420
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $48,970
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $47,110
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks — $46,890
- Customer Service Representative — $45,820
- Office Clerks, General — $45,220
- Receptionist and Information Clerk — $40,640
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- Carpenter — $58,950
- Construction Laborer — $58,900
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $53,160
Production Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $71,110
- Food Batchmaker — $46,940
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $46,130
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $60,300
- Light Truck Driver — $46,510
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $44,620
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $42,800
- Stocker and Order Filler — $34,150