Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and La Crosse, WI Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and La Crosse, WI

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,557 per month in New York, NY vs $2,142 in La Crosse, WI, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,115 per month in New York, NY vs $3,401 in La Crosse, WI, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,674 per month in New York, NY vs $4,661 in La Crosse, WI, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 113% more than La Crosse, WI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both New York, NY and La Crosse, WI sit above the global median – New York, NY by 240%, La Crosse, WI by 60%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.90 $29.90

$13.05 $13.05

129.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 $143

$82.9 $82.9

72.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.67 $12.67

$12.03 $12.03

5.32%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$5.87 $5.87

-1.53%

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

$3.40 $3.40

$3.10 $3.10

9.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.26 $2.26

19.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.07 $8.07

$6.30 $6.30

28.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.86 $11.86

$6.96 $6.96

70.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 $1.61

$0.81 $0.81

98.77%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$2.17 $2.17

136.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.17 $8.17

$5.37 $5.37

52.14%

Eggs

$7.16 $7.16

$4.05 $4.05

76.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.24 $17.24

$5.59 $5.59

208.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.17 $16.17

$14.01 $14.01

15.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.46 $20.46

$17.81 $17.81

14.88%

Apples (1kg)

$7.33 $7.33

$6.48 $6.48

13.12%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.76 $1.76

37.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.75 $5.75

$2.26 $2.26

154.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$3.33 $3.33

95.80%

Potato (1kg)

$3.81 $3.81

$2.24 $2.24

70.09%

Onion (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$3.72 $3.72

6.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.08 $3.08

$2.38 $2.38

29.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.03 $2.03

21.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.03 $19.03

$11.90 $11.90

59.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.16 $20.16

$15.50 $15.50

30.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.76 $1.76

64.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$1.94 $1.94

92.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.54 $1.54

85.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$130 $130

$34.55 $34.55

275.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.97 $4.97

$4.67 $4.67

6.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 $2.24

$1.58 $1.58

41.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.20 $42.20

$24.13 $24.13

74.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$0.82 $0.82

17.07%

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

$34.7K $34.7K

$30.1K $30.1K

15.40%

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

$28.1K $28.1K

$24.0K $24.0K

16.94%

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

$183 $183

$162 $162

12.75%

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

$59.5 $59.5

$51.5 $51.5

15.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.4 $63.4

$66.0 $66.0

-3.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$140 $140

$40.32 $40.32

248.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.9 $63.9

$4.05 $4.05

1477.04%

Cinema Ticket

$19.98 $19.98

$12.03 $12.03

66.08%

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

$3,153 $3,153

$1,633 $1,633

93.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.3K $56.3K

$26.3K $26.3K

114.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.7 $67.7

$63.0 $63.0

7.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.48 $48.48

$44.37 $44.37

9.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 $115

$85.8 $85.8

34.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$170 $170

$117 $117

44.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,113 $4,113

$762 $762

440.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,651 $2,651

$986 $986

168.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,230 $8,230

$2,163 $2,163

280.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,113 $5,113

$1,975 $1,975

158.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$19.3K $19.3K

$1,889 $1,889

924.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,754 $8,754

$1,946 $1,946

349.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,049 $5,049

$4,518 $4,518

11.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.51

-1.08%

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

Last update for New York, NY: April 25, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,113 in New York, NY versus $762 in La Crosse, WI. 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 12% higher in New York, NY, 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 $143 in New York, NY versus $83.0 in La Crosse, WI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $553 vs $368 – making La Crosse, WI 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

New York, NY vs La Crosse, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $4,557 in New York, NY, $2,142 in La Crosse, WI – roughly 113% apart. New York, NY costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,835 per month in New York, NY and $3,212 in La Crosse, WI. 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.

Groceries cost about 50% more in New York, NY, 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 $143 in New York, NY and $83.0 in La Crosse, WI. 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 La Crosse, WI, where all-in costs run around $2,142, than in New York, NY at $4,557. In La Crosse, WI it covers expenses comfortably, while in New York, NY it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. New York, NY has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,142 in La Crosse, WI to $4,557 in New York, NY. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, New York, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.