Cost of Living Comparison Between La Crosse, WI and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between La Crosse, WI and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: La Crosse, WI is 20.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 29.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: La Crosse, WI is 21.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 25% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
La Crosse, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.93 $12.93
$20.82 $20.82
-37.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$83.3 $83.3
$100 $100
-16.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.9 $11.9
$11.97 $11.97
-0.58%
Cappuccino
$6.17 $6.17
$5.56 $5.56
10.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$3.11 $3.11
-5.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 $2.32
$2.42 $2.42
-4.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.11 $6.11
$6.86 $6.86
-10.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.08 $7.08
$8.45 $8.45
-16.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
La Crosse, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.8 $0.8
$1.04 $1.04
-23.08%
White Bread (500g)
$2.18 $2.18
$4.15 $4.15
-47.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.37 $5.37
$5.52 $5.52
-2.72%
Eggs
$4.24 $4.24
$4.65 $4.65
-8.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.38 $5.38
$14.33 $14.33
-62.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.23 $14.23
$14.88 $14.88
-4.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.89 $17.89
$19.34 $19.34
-7.50%
Apples (1kg)
$6.24 $6.24
$5.17 $5.17
20.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.8 $1.8
$1.71 $1.71
5.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.17 $2.17
$4.41 $4.41
-50.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.35 $3.35
$4.51 $4.51
-25.72%
Potato (1kg)
$2.26 $2.26
$2.53 $2.53
-10.67%
Onion (1kg)
$3.83 $3.83
$2.74 $2.74
39.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.45 $2.45
$2.43 $2.43
0.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.7 $2.7
-26.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.95 $11.95
$15.19 $15.19
-21.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.79 $10.79
$16.42 $16.42
-34.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 $1.78
$2.35 $2.35
-24.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$3.7 $3.7
-44.86%
🚌 Getting Around
La Crosse, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.48 $1.48
$2.53 $2.53
-41.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.4 $35.4
$74.1 $74.1
-52.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.58 $4.58
$3.34 $3.34
37.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 $1.58
$1.42 $1.42
11.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.87 $23.87
$25.42 $25.42
-6.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$1.08 $1.08
-23.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K $30.5K
$32.4K $32.4K
-5.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.4K $24.4K
$26.2K $26.2K
-6.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
La Crosse, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$165 $165
$188 $188
-12.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.7 $51.7
$63.7 $63.7
-18.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.7 $67.7
$65.2 $65.2
3.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
La Crosse, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.41 $39.41
$76.7 $76.7
-48.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.88 $3.88
$13.03 $13.03
-70.22%
Cinema Ticket
$11.85 $11.85
$14.93 $14.93
-20.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
La Crosse, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,609 $1,609
$2,063 $2,063
-21.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.2K $26.2K
$39.2K $39.2K
-33.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
La Crosse, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.3 $63.3
$64.3 $64.3
-1.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.35 $44.35
$52.4 $52.4
-15.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 $86.1
$95.2 $95.2
-9.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 $115
$145 $145
-20.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
La Crosse, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$777 $777
$2,378 $2,378
-67.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,004 $1,004
$1,584 $1,584
-36.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,197 $2,197
$4,763 $4,763
-53.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,966 $1,966
$2,815 $2,815
-30.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,855 $1,855
$3,588 $3,588
-48.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,877 $1,877
$2,490 $2,490
-24.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
La Crosse, WI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,554 $4,554
$5,275 $5,275
-13.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.6
-1.36%

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

Last update for La Crosse, WI: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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