CostIndexUSA

La Crosse, WI vs Scranton, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableWI
La Crosse
91.8
overall index
$1,200/mo rent
PA
Scranton
93.6
overall index
$1,325/mo rent

La Crosse is slightly cheaper than Scranton — 2.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in La Crosse, you would need $81,600 in Scranton. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing3.5%
La Crosse
69.4
Scranton
67
🛒 Groceries+7.4%
La Crosse
93.8
Scranton
100.7
🚗 Transportation1.7%
La Crosse
104.4
Scranton
102.6
🏥 Healthcare1.8%
La Crosse
94.5
Scranton
92.8
Utilities+19.0%
La Crosse
89.5
Scranton
106.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Scranton, PA
$81,600
$1,600 more needed in Scranton

Formula: salary × (93.6 ÷ 91.8) = salary × 1.0196. 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×

Scranton, PA

Median Home Price
$220,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,325
Housing Index
67
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.8×

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

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

Scranton, PA

Median Household Income
$58,800
Per Capita Income
$33,500
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
76,997
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingEducationGovernmentRetail

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)

Scranton, PA
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.