CostIndexUSA

La Crosse, WI vs Montgomery, AL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WI
La Crosse
91.8
overall index
$1,200/mo rent
More AffordableAL
Montgomery
89.7
overall index
$1,375/mo rent

Montgomery is slightly cheaper than La Crosse — 2.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in La Crosse, you would need $78,200 in Montgomery. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing7.3%
La Crosse
69.4
Montgomery
64.3
🛒 Groceries+2.8%
La Crosse
93.8
Montgomery
96.4
🚗 Transportation2.8%
La Crosse
104.4
Montgomery
101.5
🏥 Healthcare2.8%
La Crosse
94.5
Montgomery
91.9
Utilities5.1%
La Crosse
89.5
Montgomery
84.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Montgomery, AL
$78,200
$1,800 less needed in Montgomery

Formula: salary × (89.7 ÷ 91.8) = salary × 0.9771. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

La Crosse, WI

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

Montgomery, AL

Median Home Price
$205,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,375
Housing Index
64.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.4×

La Crosse has 7.3% lower housing costs compared to Montgomery.

Income & Job Market

La Crosse, WI

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

Montgomery, AL

Median Household Income
$62,400
Per Capita Income
$35,600
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
199,518
Top Industries
GovernmentMilitaryHealthcareManufacturingEducation

Affordability at a Glance

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

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

80% of income left after rent (median)

Montgomery, AL
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.