Cost of Living in La Crosse, WI - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $908 (excluding rent), and $2,195 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $2,202 (excluding rent), and $4,648 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.65 $12.65

$11.86 $11.86

$29.64 $29.64

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$82.2 $82.2

$54.1 $54.1

$148 $148

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.02 $12.02

$9.01 $9.01

$13.02 $13.02

Cappuccino

$6.13 $6.13

$3.06 $3.06

$10.19 $10.19

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

$2.99 $2.99

$1.98 $1.98

$4.95 $4.95

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$2.04 $2.04

$4.09 $4.09

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.16 $6.16

$4.93 $4.93

$7.89 $7.89

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.96 $6.96

$5.96 $5.96

$11.93 $11.93

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$0.75 $0.75

$1.23 $1.23

White Bread (500g)

$2.13 $2.13

$5.35 $5.35

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$1.98 $1.98

$11.14 $11.14

Eggs

$4.06 $4.06

$1.65 $1.65

$6.84 $6.84

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.34 $5.34

$21.46 $21.46

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.15 $14.15

$6.56 $6.56

$21.65 $21.65

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.91 $17.91

$11.11 $11.11

$22.22 $22.22

Apples (1kg)

$6.36 $6.36

$2.51 $2.51

$11.05 $11.05

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 $1.79

$1.20 $1.20

$4.37 $4.37

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.15 $2.15

$15.89 $15.89

Tomato (1kg)

$3.24 $3.24

$2.18 $2.18

$9.14 $9.14

Potato (1kg)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.54 $1.54

$8.92 $8.92

Onion (1kg)

$3.85 $3.85

$2.24 $2.24

$8.37 $8.37

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.80 $1.80

$4.03 $4.03

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$0.49 $0.49

$3.41 $3.41

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.05 $12.05

$9.17 $9.17

$15.07 $15.07

Wine (Bottle)

$15.58 $15.58

$8.98 $8.98

$48.94 $48.94

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.47 $1.47

$3.66 $3.66

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.46 $1.46

$7.77 $7.77

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.27 $1.27

$2.04 $2.04

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.63 $34.63

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.65 $4.65

$9.88 $9.88

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 $1.64

$2.87 $2.87

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.69 $23.69

$49.35 $49.35

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$0.75 $0.75

$1.03 $1.03

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

$30.5K $30.5K

$26.1K $26.1K

$36.8K $36.8K

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

$23.8K $23.8K

$28.7K $28.7K

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

$163 $163

$130 $130

$201 $201

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

$51.7 $51.7

$30.05 $30.05

$100 $100

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.6 $65.6

$48.25 $48.25

$98.5 $98.5

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.88 $39.88

$17.45 $17.45

$49.84 $49.84

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.06 $4.06

Cinema Ticket

$11.95 $11.95

$17.93 $17.93

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

$1,618 $1,618

$1,056 $1,056

$2,012 $2,012

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$26.7K $26.7K

$21.6K $21.6K

$36.2K $36.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.1 $63.1

$30.12 $30.12

$90.4 $90.4

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.26 $44.26

$25.29 $25.29

$80.9 $80.9

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.9 $83.9

$54.3 $54.3

$137 $137

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 $120

$76.4 $76.4

$163 $163

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$778 $778

$502 $502

$1,054 $1,054

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,018 $1,018

$1,527 $1,527

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,244 $2,244

$2,040 $2,040

$2,448 $2,448

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,959 $1,959

$1,607 $1,607

$2,310 $2,310

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,909 $1,909

$1,802 $1,802

$1,985 $1,985

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,905 $1,905

$1,798 $1,798

$1,980 $1,980

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,484 $4,484

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

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

Last update: March 3, 2026

La Crosse, WI Median Internet Speeds (Updated December 2025)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

City tags:

🌎 North america

Cost of Living in La Crosse, WI - Frequently Asked Questions

Many travelers and expats find that Cost of Living in La Crosse, WI, United States offers a balanced mix of housing options, services, and lifestyle perks for a city of its size. You’ll typically find slower-paced neighborhoods with approachable rents or lease options compared with larger metros, good access to groceries, and a solid range of cafes and coworking spaces. Seasonal outdoor activities add value without inflating costs, and public transit and bike-friendly streets keep daily expenses down. For a nomad, the upside is the sense of community and the ability to work from varied spots without paying premium city-center marks. Tip: Explore neighborhoods on foot to get a real feel for value.

La Crosse, WI, United States living cost tends to feel manageable with smart planning. Daily life starts with a practical housing search in riverfront and downtown pockets, where rental options range from compact apartments to larger flats with fresh character. For food, you can balance farmers markets, casual eateries, and reliable groceries with seasonal produce. Transport is friendly to walkers and cyclists, with dependable bus routes and easy access to the Mississippi river trails. Coworking spaces cluster around the downtown and university corridors, offering day passes and short-term memberships. Errands stay straightforward in a compact core, while longer trips benefit from a car on weekends. Tip: Build a weekly route that reduces backtracking.

Quality of life here comes from a strong sense of community, easy access to outdoor recreation, and a compact layout that keeps errands short. Use a simple budgeting framework that brackets shelter first, groceries and utilities second, and discretionary spending third. Seasonality shapes plans and costs: winter needs warm gear and heating considerations, summer supports free or low-cost outdoor events. Neighborhood fit depends on your pace and priorities; downtown spots keep you close to services, while the east side and bluff areas offer calmer streets and quicker river access. Tip: test two or three neighborhoods during different seasons before committing.