CostIndexUSA

Charlotte, NC vs La Crosse, WI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NC
Charlotte
97.3
overall index
$1,700/mo rent
More AffordableWI
La Crosse
91.8
overall index
$1,200/mo rent

La Crosse is moderately cheaper than Charlotte — 5.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charlotte, you would need $75,500 in La Crosse. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing28.9%
Charlotte
97.6
La Crosse
69.4
🛒 Groceries2.9%
Charlotte
96.6
La Crosse
93.8
🚗 Transportation+1.3%
Charlotte
103.1
La Crosse
104.4
🏥 Healthcare+1.3%
Charlotte
93.3
La Crosse
94.5
Utilities≈ Equal
Charlotte
89.2
La Crosse
89.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in La Crosse, WI
$75,500
$4,500 less needed in La Crosse

Formula: salary × (91.8 ÷ 97.3) = salary × 0.9435. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Charlotte, NC

Median Home Price
$380,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Housing Index
97.6
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×

Charlotte has 28.9% lower housing costs compared to La Crosse.

Income & Job Market

Charlotte, NC

Median Household Income
$81,300
Per Capita Income
$46,300
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
879,709
Top Industries
FinanceHealthcareManufacturingTechnologyEnergy

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).

Charlotte, NC
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.