CostIndexUSA

Knoxville, TN vs La Crosse, WI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TN
Knoxville
92.6
overall index
$1,725/mo rent
More AffordableWI
La Crosse
91.8
overall index
$1,200/mo rent

La Crosse is slightly cheaper than Knoxville — 0.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Knoxville, you would need $79,300 in La Crosse. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing16.2%
Knoxville
82.8
La Crosse
69.4
🛒 Groceries2.5%
Knoxville
96.2
La Crosse
93.8
🚗 Transportation+4.5%
Knoxville
99.9
La Crosse
104.4
🏥 Healthcare+4.5%
Knoxville
90.4
La Crosse
94.5
Utilities+24.5%
Knoxville
71.9
La Crosse
89.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in La Crosse, WI
$79,300
$700 less needed in La Crosse

Formula: salary × (91.8 ÷ 92.6) = salary × 0.9914. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Knoxville, TN

Median Home Price
$352,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,725
Housing Index
82.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.0×

La Crosse, WI

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

Knoxville has 16.2% lower housing costs compared to La Crosse.

Income & Job Market

Knoxville, TN

Median Household Income
$69,900
Per Capita Income
$39,800
Unemployment Rate
3.2%
Population
190,740
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingTourismGovernment

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).

Knoxville, TN
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

70% 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.