Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between La Crosse, WI and Toronto

For one person, living is cheaper in La Crosse, WI: $2,198 a month against $2,561 in Toronto, rent and utilities included – about $4,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

La Crosse, WI
🇺🇸 United States
$2,198
/mo nomad
Toronto
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,561
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in La Crosse, WI and in Toronto

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in La Crosse, WI and in Toronto actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,198 per month in La Crosse, WI vs $2,561 in Toronto, rent included.

  • La Crosse, WI $2,198
  • Toronto $2,561

A couple spends around $3,399 per month in La Crosse, WI vs $3,694 in Toronto, rent included.

  • La Crosse, WI $3,399
  • Toronto $3,694

A family of three spends $4,601 per month in La Crosse, WI vs $4,826 in Toronto, rent included.

  • La Crosse, WI $4,601
  • Toronto $4,826

La Crosse, WI is about 14% cheaper than Toronto, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both La Crosse, WI and Toronto sit above the global median – La Crosse, WI by 63%, Toronto by 90%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
La Crosse, WI
Toronto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.98 $14.98
$17.18 CA$24.29
-12.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.2 $71.2
$76.0 CA$107
-6.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.17 $11.17
$10.54 CA$14.89
5.98%
Cappuccino
$5.65 $5.65
$4.02 CA$5.68
40.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 $2.20
$2.12 CA$3.00
3.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18 $1.18
$1.75 CA$2.48
-32.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.44 $4.44
$6.24 CA$8.83
-28.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.97 $5.97
$7.09 CA$10.02
-15.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
La Crosse, WI
Toronto
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.72 $0.72
$2.44 CA$3.45
-70.49%
White Bread (500g)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.68 CA$3.78
-4.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.77 $4.77
$2.24 CA$3.17
112.95%
Eggs
$2.40 $2.40
$3.56 CA$5.03
-32.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.96 $9.96
$9.09 CA$12.85
9.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.69 $10.69
$11.33 CA$16.01
-5.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.45 $16.45
$14.53 CA$20.55
13.21%
Apples (1kg)
$4.90 $4.90
$3.62 CA$5.12
35.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 $1.11
$1.21 CA$1.72
-8.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$3.60 CA$5.09
-13.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.22 $5.22
$4.21 CA$5.96
23.99%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 $2.00
$1.79 CA$2.53
11.73%
Onion (1kg)
$2.31 $2.31
$1.59 CA$2.25
45.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.06 $2.06
$2.27 CA$3.21
-9.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.25 CA$1.77
36.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.74 $9.74
$13.82 CA$19.53
-29.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.04 $11.04
$14.27 CA$20.18
-22.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 $1.82
$2.20 CA$3.10
-17.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.43 CA$3.44
-20.16%
🚌 Getting Around
La Crosse, WI
Toronto
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.98 $0.98
$2.39 CA$3.38
-59.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.58 $35.58
$111 CA$157
-67.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.44 $3.44
$2.91 CA$4.12
18.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 $1.91
$1.20 CA$1.69
59.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$44.67 $44.67
$21.38 CA$30.23
108.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.21 CA$1.71
-26.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K $38.8K
$28.2K CA$39.8K
37.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3K $24.3K
$20.3K CA$28.6K
19.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
La Crosse, WI
Toronto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$206 $206
$120 CA$170
71.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.4 $54.4
$32.26 CA$45.60
68.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.9 $66.9
$47.93 CA$67.8
39.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
La Crosse, WI
Toronto
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.44 $39.44
$38.48 CA$54.4
2.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.95 $3.95
$22.96 CA$32.46
-82.80%
Cinema Ticket
$11.92 $11.92
$12.38 CA$17.50
-3.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
La Crosse, WI
Toronto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$890 $890
$830 CA$1,173
7.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$23.1K CA$32.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
La Crosse, WI
Toronto
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.3 $63.3
$50.7 CA$71.7
24.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.3 $63.3
$40.02 CA$56.6
58.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.6 $79.6
$98.0 CA$139
-18.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 $121
$121 CA$171
-0.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
La Crosse, WI
Toronto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$763 $763
$1,592 CA$2,251
-52.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,000 $1,000
$1,410 CA$1,994
-29.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,227 $2,227
$2,670 CA$3,775
-16.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,983 $1,983
$2,152 CA$3,042
-7.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,907 $1,907
$7,945 CA$11.2K
-76.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,920 $1,920
$6,542 CA$9,249
-70.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
La Crosse, WI
Toronto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,088 $4,088
$3,727 CA$5,269
9.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.63
4.47
48.32%

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

Last update for La Crosse, WI: October 12, 2026

Last update for Toronto: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
La Crosse, WI
$1K
Toronto
$1.4K 41% $410
Groceries & Markets
La Crosse, WI
$338
Toronto
$340 0.5% $1.6
Monthly Utilities & Internet
La Crosse, WI
$328
Toronto
$201 38.8% $127
Eating Out
La Crosse, WI
$269
Toronto
$278 3.5% $9.4
Clothing & Footwear
La Crosse, WI
$147
Toronto
$139 5.3% $7.8
Sport & Entertainment
La Crosse, WI
$63
Toronto
$63 0.1% $0
Getting Around
La Crosse, WI
$52
Toronto
$129 147% $77

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $763 in La Crosse, WI versus $1,592 in Toronto. 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 10% 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 $76.0 in Toronto. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $338 vs $340 – making La Crosse, WI the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 La Crosse, WI
🇨🇦 Toronto
🕒 Local time
04:12 4:12 AM
05:12 5:12 AM
1 h ahead of La Crosse, WI
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
52,680
2,731,571
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • La Crosse, WI Toronto 950 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • La Crosse, WI
  • Toronto

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in La Crosse, WI and in Toronto compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,198 in La Crosse, WI, $2,561 in Toronto – roughly 17% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.
What salary covers living expenses in La Crosse, WI compared to Toronto?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,297 per month in La Crosse, WI and $3,841 in Toronto. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between La Crosse, WI and Toronto?
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.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 0% more in Toronto, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in La Crosse, WI and $76.0 in Toronto. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in La Crosse, WI, where all-in costs run around $2,198, than in Toronto at $2,561. In La Crosse, WI it covers expenses comfortably, while in Toronto it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: La Crosse, WI or Toronto?
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.
Is La Crosse, WI or Toronto safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between La Crosse, WI and Toronto?
If budget matters most, go with La Crosse, WI. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Toronto makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

La Crosse, WI vs other spots: cost of living compared

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