Cost of Living Comparison Between La Crosse, WI and Lethbridge, AB Cost of Living Comparison Between La Crosse, WI and Lethbridge, AB

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,189 per month in La Crosse, WI vs $2,010 in Lethbridge, AB, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,370 per month in La Crosse, WI vs $2,975 in Lethbridge, AB, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,551 per month in La Crosse, WI vs $3,941 in Lethbridge, AB, rent included.

La Crosse, WI costs about 9% more than Lethbridge, AB, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both La Crosse, WI and Lethbridge, AB sit above the global median – La Crosse, WI by 63%, Lethbridge, AB by 50%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.85 $12.85

$18.57 CA$25.82

-30.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.2 $83.2

$69.3 CA$96.4

20.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.03 $12.03

$11.15 CA$15.51

7.89%

Cappuccino

$5.87 $5.87

$3.61 CA$5.02

62.60%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$1.60 CA$2.23

90.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.75 CA$2.43

30.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.21 $6.21

$5.25 CA$7.30

18.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.16 $7.16

$6.17 CA$8.57

16.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$2.13 CA$2.96

-61.03%

White Bread (500g)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.39 CA$3.32

-8.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.54 $5.54

$3.41 CA$4.74

62.46%

Eggs

$4.07 $4.07

$3.31 CA$4.60

22.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.47 $5.47

$12.25 CA$17.03

-55.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.43 $14.43

$12.57 CA$17.48

14.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.98 $17.98

$12.47 CA$17.35

44.19%

Apples (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$4.21 CA$5.86

46.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.28 CA$1.78

42.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 $2.22

$3.78 CA$5.26

-41.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.24 $3.24

$4.35 CA$6.04

-25.52%

Potato (1kg)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.59 CA$3.60

-16.99%

Onion (1kg)

$3.81 $3.81

$2.68 CA$3.72

42.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.77 CA$3.85

-13.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.95 CA$2.72

-0.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.84 $11.84

$14.70 CA$20.45

-19.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.51 $15.51

$13.10 CA$18.21

18.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.27 CA$3.16

-22.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.93 CA$4.07

-30.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

$2.16 CA$3.01

-29.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.69 $34.69

$56.7 CA$78.9

-38.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.58 $4.58

$3.59 CA$4.99

27.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.36 CA$1.89

16.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.19 $24.19

$29.17 CA$40.56

-17.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$1.07 CA$1.49

-25.23%

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

$29.9K $29.9K

$25.5K CA$35.4K

17.24%

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

$24.3K $24.3K

$20.7K CA$28.8K

17.11%

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

$164 $164

$207 CA$288

-21.13%

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

$52.2 $52.2

$41.74 CA$58.1

25.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$59.6 CA$82.8

12.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.48 $40.48

$46.10 CA$64.1

-12.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.93 $3.93

Cinema Ticket

$11.87 $11.87

$11.60 CA$16.13

2.33%

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

$1,588 $1,588

$860 CA$1,196

84.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$26.6K $26.6K

$16.0K CA$22.3K

65.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.6 $63.6

$44.42 CA$61.8

43.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.52 $44.52

$47.14 CA$65.6

-5.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.5 $83.5

$87.8 CA$122

-4.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$107 CA$149

9.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$777 $777

$975 CA$1,356

-20.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$996 $996

$777 CA$1,081

28.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,172 $2,172

$1,378 CA$1,916

57.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,934 $1,934

$1,277 CA$1,776

51.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,907 $1,907

$5,677 CA$7,896

-66.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,908 $1,908

$2,056 CA$2,860

-7.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,556 $4,556

$3,048 CA$4,239

49.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

5.71

14.01%

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

Last update for La Crosse, WI: May 30, 2026

Last update for Lethbridge, AB: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $777 in La Crosse, WI versus $975 in Lethbridge, AB. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 49% higher in La Crosse, WI, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $83.0 in La Crosse, WI versus $69.0 in Lethbridge, AB. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $369 vs $366 – making Lethbridge, AB the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

La Crosse, WI vs Lethbridge, AB: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,189 in La Crosse, WI, $2,010 in Lethbridge, AB – roughly 9% apart. La Crosse, WI costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,283 per month in La Crosse, WI and $3,015 in Lethbridge, AB. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lethbridge, AB, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 1% more in La Crosse, WI, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $83.0 in La Crosse, WI and $69.0 in Lethbridge, AB. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Lethbridge, AB, where all-in costs run around $2,010, than in La Crosse, WI at $2,189. In Lethbridge, AB it covers expenses comfortably, while in La Crosse, WI it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Lethbridge, AB – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Lethbridge, AB. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, La Crosse, WI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.