CostIndexUSA

Birmingham, AL vs La Crosse, WI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostAL
Birmingham
91.6
overall index
$1,375/mo rent
WI
La Crosse
91.8
overall index
$1,200/mo rent

Birmingham and La Crosse have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing3.5%
Birmingham
71.9
La Crosse
69.4
🛒 Groceries2.7%
Birmingham
96.4
La Crosse
93.8
🚗 Transportation+2.9%
Birmingham
101.5
La Crosse
104.4
🏥 Healthcare+2.8%
Birmingham
91.9
La Crosse
94.5
Utilities+6.8%
Birmingham
83.8
La Crosse
89.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in La Crosse, WI
$80,200
$200 more needed in La Crosse

Formula: salary × (91.8 ÷ 91.6) = salary × 1.0022. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Birmingham, AL

Median Home Price
$252,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,375
Housing Index
71.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.3×

La Crosse, WI

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

Birmingham has 3.5% lower housing costs compared to La Crosse.

Income & Job Market

Birmingham, AL

Median Household Income
$69,300
Per Capita Income
$39,500
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
212,237
Top Industries
HealthcareFinanceManufacturingEducationGovernment

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).

Birmingham, AL
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.