Uprootmap
Chicago vs La Crosse
Chicago and La Crosse
Photo: Lacrossewi / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in La Crosse are under the US rate in this release, 2.2 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Chicago to La Crosse
In 2022-2023, 33 households filed a move from Chicago to La Crosse (about 49 people, average adjusted gross income $38,091). 37 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,782 in Chicago and $894 in La Crosse. Chicago has a state tax on wages. La Crosse has a state tax on wages. Local pay in La Crosse is 91% of the national level for the same work, against 105% in Chicago.
La Crosse averages 192 sunny days, with July highs around 80°F and January nights around 16°F. Chicago is 189 sunny days, 84°F in July, 20°F in January. Commutes average 21 minutes in La Crosse and 33 in Chicago.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 33 households moved Chicago → La Crosse (about 49 people, average AGI $38,091). 37 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Chicago and La Crosse changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 256 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,800–$3,400
- Container or pod
- $1,250–$2,300
- Rent a truck
- $500–$950
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Dig into La Crosse
Questions
Is La Crosse cheaper than Chicago after tax and rent?
Yes. La Crosse leaves about $920 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,782 in Chicago and $894 in La Crosse.
Does La Crosse have state income tax?
La Crosse is in Wisconsin, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Chicago to La Crosse?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.