CostIndexUSA

Baton Rouge, LA vs La Crosse, WI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableLA
Baton Rouge
90.8
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
WI
La Crosse
91.8
overall index
$1,200/mo rent

Baton Rouge is slightly cheaper than La Crosse — 1.1% lower overall cost of living.

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

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing6.5%
Baton Rouge
74.2
La Crosse
69.4
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Baton Rouge
93.7
La Crosse
93.8
🚗 Transportation+3.9%
Baton Rouge
100.5
La Crosse
104.4
🏥 Healthcare+4.0%
Baton Rouge
90.9
La Crosse
94.5
Utilities+25.7%
Baton Rouge
71.2
La Crosse
89.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in La Crosse, WI
$80,900
$900 more needed in La Crosse

Formula: salary × (91.8 ÷ 90.8) = salary × 1.0110. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Baton Rouge, LA

Median Home Price
$240,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,350
Housing Index
74.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

La Crosse, WI

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

Baton Rouge has 6.5% lower housing costs compared to La Crosse.

Income & Job Market

Baton Rouge, LA

Median Household Income
$64,600
Per Capita Income
$36,800
Unemployment Rate
4.6%
Population
227,470
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareGovernmentEducationManufacturing

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).

Baton Rouge, LA
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% 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.