CostIndexUSA

Columbus, GA vs La Crosse, WI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableGA
Columbus
89.3
overall index
$1,250/mo rent
WI
La Crosse
91.8
overall index
$1,200/mo rent

Columbus is slightly cheaper than La Crosse — 2.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Columbus, you would need $82,200 in La Crosse. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+13.4%
Columbus
61.2
La Crosse
69.4
🛒 Groceries2.6%
Columbus
96.3
La Crosse
93.8
🚗 Transportation+0.9%
Columbus
103.5
La Crosse
104.4
🏥 Healthcare+1.0%
Columbus
93.6
La Crosse
94.5
Utilities≈ Equal
Columbus
89.7
La Crosse
89.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in La Crosse, WI
$82,200
$2,200 more needed in La Crosse

Formula: salary × (91.8 ÷ 89.3) = salary × 1.0280. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Columbus, GA

Median Home Price
$200,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,250
Housing Index
61.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.3×

La Crosse, WI

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

La Crosse has 13.4% higher housing costs compared to Columbus.

Income & Job Market

Columbus, GA

Median Household Income
$54,700
Per Capita Income
$31,200
Unemployment Rate
5.3%
Population
206,922
Top Industries
MilitaryHealthcareManufacturingGovernmentRetail

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).

Columbus, GA
3.6×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.