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 $2,185 per month in La Crosse, WI vs $2,216 in Lethbridge, AB, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,405 per month in La Crosse, WI vs $3,246 in Lethbridge, AB, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,624 per month in La Crosse, WI vs $4,277 in Lethbridge, AB, rent included.

La Crosse, WI is about 1% cheaper than Lethbridge, AB, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both La Crosse, WI and Lethbridge, AB sit above the global median – La Crosse, WI by 60%, Lethbridge, AB by 62%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.11 $20.11

$21.91 CA$30.46

-8.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.7 $70.7

$69.7 CA$96.9

1.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.15 $10.15

$12.37 CA$17.20

-17.95%

Cappuccino

$5.11 $5.11

$4.19 CA$5.83

21.96%

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

$2.18 $2.18

$1.76 CA$2.45

23.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 $1.13

$2.09 CA$2.91

-45.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.06 $5.06

$5.06 CA$7.03

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.17 $6.17

$5.62 CA$7.82

9.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$2.25 CA$3.13

-63.56%

White Bread (500g)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.53 CA$3.51

1.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$4.57 CA$6.36

-40.48%

Eggs

$3.65 $3.65

$3.38 CA$4.70

7.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.88 $9.88

$10.42 CA$14.48

-5.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.70 $13.70

$12.45 CA$17.30

10.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.57 $16.57

$13.39 CA$18.61

23.75%

Apples (1kg)

$5.24 $5.24

$3.38 CA$4.70

55.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.36 CA$1.89

0.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$2.80 CA$3.90

11.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.28 $5.28

$4.72 CA$6.56

11.86%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 $2.05

$3.67 CA$5.10

-44.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.50 $2.50

$3.18 CA$4.42

-21.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.15 $2.15

$3.21 CA$4.46

-33.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.80 CA$2.50

-1.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.64 $10.64

$11.93 CA$16.59

-10.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.42 $15.42

$14.64 CA$20.35

5.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 $1.82

$3.30 CA$4.59

-44.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$3.90 CA$5.43

-47.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.19 CA$3.05

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$71.2 CA$98.9

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.72 $2.72

$3.62 CA$5.03

-24.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$2.82 CA$3.91

-43.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.14 $21.14

$43.82 CA$60.9

-51.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.07 CA$1.49

-23.36%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$28.9K CA$40.2K

23.83%

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

$24.4K $24.4K

$23.1K CA$32.1K

5.88%

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

$206 $206

$278 CA$387

-26.00%

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

$53.9 $53.9

$52.8 CA$73.4

2.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$69.8 CA$97.1

-5.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.98 $39.98

$46.19 CA$64.2

-13.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.94 $3.94

$14.24 CA$19.79

-72.33%

Cinema Ticket

$11.94 $11.94

$14.58 CA$20.26

-18.11%

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

$1,202 $1,202

$881 CA$1,225

36.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.3K $24.3K

$3,644 CA$5,066

567.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 $54.1

$48.90 CA$68.0

10.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.65 $44.65

$52.4 CA$72.9

-14.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 $78.5

$78.0 CA$108

0.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$118 CA$164

0.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$789 $789

$1,023 CA$1,422

-22.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,015 $1,015

$774 CA$1,077

31.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,207 $2,207

$1,455 CA$2,023

51.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,972 $1,972

$1,287 CA$1,790

53.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,881 $1,881

$5,666 CA$7,877

-66.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,905 $1,905

$2,111 CA$2,934

-9.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,043 $4,043

$3,029 CA$4,211

33.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.12

4.85

26.19%

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

Last update for La Crosse, WI: September 13, 2026

Last update for Lethbridge, AB: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $789 in La Crosse, WI versus $1,023 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 33% higher in La Crosse, WI, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in La Crosse, WI versus $70.0 in Lethbridge, AB. Groceries tell a different story – $365 in La Crosse, WI vs $379 in Lethbridge, AB – so La Crosse, WI wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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: $2,185 in La Crosse, WI, $2,216 in Lethbridge, AB – roughly 1% apart. Lethbridge, AB costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,277 per month in La Crosse, WI and $3,324 in Lethbridge, AB. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in La Crosse, WI and $70.0 in Lethbridge, AB. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 4% more in Lethbridge, AB, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in La Crosse, WI, where all-in costs run around $2,185, than in Lethbridge, AB at $2,216. In La Crosse, WI it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lethbridge, AB it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward La Crosse, WI – 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 La Crosse, WI. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lethbridge, AB makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.