Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and La Crosse, WI Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and La Crosse, WI

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,533 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,192 in La Crosse, WI, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,549 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,462 in La Crosse, WI, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,565 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,732 in La Crosse, WI, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 61% more than La Crosse, WI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and La Crosse, WI sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 165%, La Crosse, WI by 64%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.41 $25.41

$12.76 $12.76

99.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$82.3 $82.3

47.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.81 $13.81

$12.07 $12.07

14.42%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$6.00 $6.00

-2.33%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$3.10 $3.10

-3.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.29 $2.29

5.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.90 $7.90

$6.19 $6.19

27.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$7.02 $7.02

16.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$0.82 $0.82

70.73%

White Bread (500g)

$4.90 $4.90

$2.25 $2.25

117.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$5.38 $5.38

-3.72%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$4.03 $4.03

69.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.93 $24.93

$5.58 $5.58

346.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.69 $15.69

$14.39 $14.39

9.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.12 $20.12

$17.67 $17.67

13.87%

Apples (1kg)

$6.01 $6.01

$6.25 $6.25

-3.84%

Banana (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.77 $1.77

60.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$2.26 $2.26

137.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.67 $6.67

$3.23 $3.23

106.50%

Potato (1kg)

$3.14 $3.14

$2.24 $2.24

40.18%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$3.72 $3.72

-0.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.38 $2.38

17.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.00 $2.00

32.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.31 $11.31

$12.23 $12.23

-7.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.53 $15.53

$15.73 $15.73

-1.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.75 $1.75

64.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.20 $4.20

$2.05 $2.05

104.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.78 $2.78

$1.52 $1.52

82.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.0 $97.0

$34.79 $34.79

178.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$4.59 $4.59

-43.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.57 $1.57

6.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.75 $29.75

$24.18 $24.18

23.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.75 $0.75

52.00%

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

$33.4K $33.4K

$29.8K $29.8K

11.86%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$24.1K $24.1K

9.51%

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

$263 $263

$159 $159

65.42%

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

$61.1 $61.1

$52.4 $52.4

16.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.6 $74.6

$67.6 $67.6

10.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.7 $79.7

$39.90 $39.90

99.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.05 $41.05

$4.09 $4.09

903.67%

Cinema Ticket

$15.81 $15.81

$12.08 $12.08

30.88%

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

$2,289 $2,289

$1,584 $1,584

44.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.6K $29.6K

$26.2K $26.2K

12.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.1 $68.1

$64.1 $64.1

6.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$43.51 $43.51

19.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$84.9 $84.9

37.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$117 $117

19.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,377 $2,377

$780 $780

204.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,874 $1,874

$998 $998

87.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$2,215 $2,215

114.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,575 $3,575

$1,959 $1,959

82.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,026 $8,026

$1,954 $1,954

310.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,203 $5,203

$1,934 $1,934

169.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,621 $6,621

$4,459 $4,459

48.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.51

-1.38%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: June 14, 2026

Last update for La Crosse, WI: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,377 in Seattle, WA versus $780 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 49% higher in Seattle, WA, 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 $121 in Seattle, WA versus $82.0 in La Crosse, WI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $540 vs $369 – 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

Seattle, WA vs La Crosse, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,533 in Seattle, WA, $2,192 in La Crosse, WI – roughly 61% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,300 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,288 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 46% more in Seattle, WA, 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 $121 in Seattle, WA and $82.0 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 $2,192, than in Seattle, WA at $3,533. In La Crosse, WI it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Seattle, WA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,192 in La Crosse, WI to $3,533 in Seattle, WA. 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, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.