CostIndexUSA

Asheville, NC vs La Crosse, WI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NC
Asheville
96.5
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
More AffordableWI
La Crosse
91.8
overall index
$1,200/mo rent

La Crosse is slightly cheaper than Asheville — 4.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Asheville, you would need $76,100 in La Crosse. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing25.7%
Asheville
93.4
La Crosse
69.4
🛒 Groceries2.9%
Asheville
96.6
La Crosse
93.8
🚗 Transportation+1.3%
Asheville
103.1
La Crosse
104.4
🏥 Healthcare+1.3%
Asheville
93.3
La Crosse
94.5
Utilities+1.0%
Asheville
88.6
La Crosse
89.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Asheville to see what you'd need to earn in La Crosse to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in La Crosse, WI
$76,100
$3,900 less needed in La Crosse

Formula: salary × (91.8 ÷ 96.5) = salary × 0.9513. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Asheville, NC

Median Home Price
$413,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,750
Housing Index
93.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.7×

La Crosse, WI

Median Home Price
$315,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,200
Housing Index
69.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.9×

Asheville has 25.7% lower housing costs compared to La Crosse.

Income & Job Market

Asheville, NC

Median Household Income
$67,800
Per Capita Income
$38,600
Unemployment Rate
3.1%
Population
92,452
Top Industries
TourismHealthcareTechnologyArtsManufacturing

La Crosse, WI

Median Household Income
$71,300
Per Capita Income
$40,600
Unemployment Rate
3.1%
Population
52,680
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingRetailTourism

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Asheville, NC
3.2×income-to-rent ratio

69% of income left after rent (median)

La Crosse, WI
5.0×income-to-rent ratio

80% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.