CostIndexUSA

La Crosse, WI vs Winston-Salem, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostWI
La Crosse
91.8
overall index
$1,200/mo rent
NC
Winston-Salem
92
overall index
$1,075/mo rent

La Crosse and Winston-Salem have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+2.9%
La Crosse
69.4
Winston-Salem
71.4
🛒 Groceries+3.0%
La Crosse
93.8
Winston-Salem
96.6
🚗 Transportation1.2%
La Crosse
104.4
Winston-Salem
103.1
🏥 Healthcare1.3%
La Crosse
94.5
Winston-Salem
93.3
Utilities1.2%
La Crosse
89.5
Winston-Salem
88.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Winston-Salem, NC
$80,200
$200 more needed in Winston-Salem

Formula: salary × (92 ÷ 91.8) = salary × 1.0022. 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×

Winston-Salem, NC

Median Home Price
$355,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,075
Housing Index
71.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
27.5×

Winston-Salem has 2.9% 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

Winston-Salem, NC

Median Household Income
$64,400
Per Capita Income
$36,700
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
247,945
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingFinanceEducationGovernment

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)

Winston-Salem, NC
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.