CostIndexUSA

La Crosse, WI vs Pocatello, ID Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WI
La Crosse
91.8
overall index
$1,200/mo rent
More AffordableID
Pocatello
88.9
overall index
$1,075/mo rent

Pocatello is slightly cheaper than La Crosse — 3.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in La Crosse, you would need $77,500 in Pocatello. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing4.3%
La Crosse
69.4
Pocatello
66.4
🛒 Groceries+2.6%
La Crosse
93.8
Pocatello
96.2
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
La Crosse
104.4
Pocatello
103.9
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
La Crosse
94.5
Pocatello
94
Utilities22.0%
La Crosse
89.5
Pocatello
69.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Pocatello, ID
$77,500
$2,500 less needed in Pocatello

Formula: salary × (88.9 ÷ 91.8) = salary × 0.9684. 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×

Pocatello, ID

Median Home Price
$339,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,075
Housing Index
66.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.3×

La Crosse has 4.3% lower housing costs compared to Pocatello.

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

Pocatello, ID

Median Household Income
$68,500
Per Capita Income
$39,000
Unemployment Rate
2.4%
Population
56,606
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareManufacturingGovernmentRetail

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)

Pocatello, ID
5.3×income-to-rent ratio

81% 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.