CostIndexUSA

Albuquerque, NM vs La Crosse, WI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NM
Albuquerque
95.5
overall index
$1,525/mo rent
More AffordableWI
La Crosse
91.8
overall index
$1,200/mo rent

La Crosse is slightly cheaper than Albuquerque — 3.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Albuquerque, you would need $76,900 in La Crosse. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing22.2%
Albuquerque
89.2
La Crosse
69.4
🛒 Groceries2.4%
Albuquerque
96.1
La Crosse
93.8
🚗 Transportation+0.9%
Albuquerque
103.5
La Crosse
104.4
🏥 Healthcare+1.0%
Albuquerque
93.6
La Crosse
94.5
Utilities+14.9%
Albuquerque
77.9
La Crosse
89.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in La Crosse, WI
$76,900
$3,100 less needed in La Crosse

Formula: salary × (91.8 ÷ 95.5) = salary × 0.9613. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Albuquerque, NM

Median Home Price
$340,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,525
Housing Index
89.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.6×

La Crosse, WI

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

Albuquerque has 22.2% lower housing costs compared to La Crosse.

Income & Job Market

Albuquerque, NM

Median Household Income
$67,600
Per Capita Income
$38,500
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
564,559
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareEducationMilitaryTechnology

La Crosse, WI

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

Affordability at a Glance

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

Albuquerque, NM
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

La Crosse, WI
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.