CostIndexUSA

La Crosse, WI vs Waco, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableWI
La Crosse
91.8
overall index
$1,200/mo rent
TX
Waco
92.6
overall index
$1,450/mo rent

La Crosse is slightly cheaper than Waco — 0.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in La Crosse, you would need $80,700 in Waco. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+20.3%
La Crosse
69.4
Waco
83.5
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
La Crosse
93.8
Waco
93.8
🚗 Transportation3.2%
La Crosse
104.4
Waco
101.1
🏥 Healthcare3.3%
La Crosse
94.5
Waco
91.4
Utilities9.5%
La Crosse
89.5
Waco
81

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Waco, TX
$80,700
$700 more needed in Waco

Formula: salary × (92.6 ÷ 91.8) = salary × 1.0087. 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×

Waco, TX

Median Home Price
$246,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,450
Housing Index
83.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.1×

Waco has 20.3% higher housing costs compared to La Crosse.

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

Waco, TX

Median Household Income
$62,700
Per Capita Income
$35,700
Unemployment Rate
3.7%
Population
138,486
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareManufacturingRetailAgriculture

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)

Waco, TX
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% 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.