Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and La Crosse, WI Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and La Crosse, WI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,657 in Austin, TX versus $2,142 in La Crosse, WI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,401 in La Crosse, WI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,546 in Austin, TX versus $4,661 in La Crosse, WI.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 24% more expensive than La Crosse, WI, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, La Crosse, WI 60% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.85 $19.85

$13.05 $13.05

52.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$82.9 $82.9

-10.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.03 $10.03

$12.03 $12.03

-16.63%

Cappuccino

$5.52 $5.52

$5.87 $5.87

-5.96%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 $2.78

$3.10 $3.10

-10.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$2.26 $2.26

-7.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.04 $6.04

$6.30 $6.30

-4.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.81 $7.81

$6.96 $6.96

12.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.81 $0.81

39.51%

White Bread (500g)

$3.45 $3.45

$2.17 $2.17

58.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$5.37 $5.37

-36.31%

Eggs

$4.37 $4.37

$4.05 $4.05

7.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.24 $12.24

$5.59 $5.59

118.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.79 $10.79

$14.01 $14.01

-22.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.36 $14.36

$17.81 $17.81

-19.37%

Apples (1kg)

$4.99 $4.99

$6.48 $6.48

-22.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.76 $1.76

-14.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$2.26 $2.26

93.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$3.33 $3.33

18.92%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.24 $2.24

22.32%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$3.72 $3.72

-25.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.38 $2.38

-16.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.03 $2.03

12.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.74 $8.74

$11.90 $11.90

-26.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$15.50 $15.50

-4.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.76 $1.76

28.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$1.94 $1.94

84.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.09 $43.09

$34.55 $34.55

24.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.45 $4.45

$4.67 $4.67

-4.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.58 $1.58

14.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.30 $35.30

$24.13 $24.13

46.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

$0.82 $0.82

-9.76%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.5K $25.5K

$30.1K $30.1K

-15.19%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.4K $26.4K

$24.0K $24.0K

10.07%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$170 $170

$162 $162

4.72%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$60.3 $60.3

$51.5 $51.5

17.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.0 $67.0

$66.0 $66.0

1.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.6 $61.6

$40.32 $40.32

52.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

$4.05 $4.05

142.72%

Cinema Ticket

$15.14 $15.14

$12.03 $12.03

25.85%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,381 $1,381

$1,633 $1,633

-15.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$26.3K $26.3K

-17.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 $56.9

$63.0 $63.0

-9.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.94 $45.94

$44.37 $44.37

3.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.0 $86.0

$85.8 $85.8

0.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$117 $117

2.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,183 $2,183

$762 $762

186.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,417 $1,417

$986 $986

43.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,801 $3,801

$2,163 $2,163

75.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,711 $2,711

$1,975 $1,975

37.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,204 $7,204

$1,889 $1,889

281.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,239 $3,239

$1,946 $1,946

66.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,914 $4,914

$4,518 $4,518

8.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.51

-0.92%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Austin, TX: April 27, 2026

Last update for La Crosse, WI: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,183 in Austin, TX and $762 in La Crosse, WI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 9% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $83.0 in La Crosse, WI. Groceries flip the comparison at $379 vs $368, with La Crosse, WI cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Austin, TX vs La Crosse, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

La Crosse, WI wins on cost – living expenses run 24% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making La Crosse, WI the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 9% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,183 in Austin, TX versus $762 in La Crosse, WI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,657 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,142 in La Crosse, WI – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in La Crosse, WI runs roughly 25% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,142 in La Crosse, WI versus $2,657 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in La Crosse, WI but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes La Crosse, WI the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and La Crosse, WI are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find La Crosse, WI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.