CostIndexUSA

La Crosse, WI vs Sioux Falls, SD Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WI
La Crosse
91.8
overall index
$1,200/mo rent
More AffordableSD
Sioux Falls
90.6
overall index
$1,225/mo rent

Sioux Falls is slightly cheaper than La Crosse — 1.3% lower overall cost of living.

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

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+11.8%
La Crosse
69.4
Sioux Falls
77.6
🛒 Groceries+1.8%
La Crosse
93.8
Sioux Falls
95.5
🚗 Transportation7.6%
La Crosse
104.4
Sioux Falls
96.5
🏥 Healthcare7.6%
La Crosse
94.5
Sioux Falls
87.3
Utilities9.8%
La Crosse
89.5
Sioux Falls
80.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Sioux Falls, SD
$79,000
$1,000 less needed in Sioux Falls

Formula: salary × (90.6 ÷ 91.8) = salary × 0.9869. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

La Crosse, WI

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

Sioux Falls, SD

Median Home Price
$329,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,225
Housing Index
77.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.4×

Sioux Falls has 11.8% higher housing costs compared to La Crosse.

Income & Job Market

La Crosse, WI

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

Sioux Falls, SD

Median Household Income
$76,200
Per Capita Income
$43,400
Unemployment Rate
2%
Population
192,517
Top Industries
FinanceHealthcareRetailManufacturingAgriculture

Affordability at a Glance

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

La Crosse, WI
5.0×income-to-rent ratio

80% of income left after rent (median)

Sioux Falls, SD
5.2×income-to-rent ratio

81% 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.