La Crosse, WI vs Rockford, IL: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Rockford, IL and La Crosse, WI are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in La Crosse works out to about $75,300 in Rockford, before taxes.
- Housing is 1.0% higher in Rockford, goods 0.2% lower and other services 0.1% higher, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,299 a month in Rockford and $1,353 in La Crosse, $648 a year less in Rockford (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $222,000 in Rockford and $331,000 in La Crosse.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (0.3%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in La Crosse and Rockford
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- La Crosse, WI
- Rockford, IL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| La Crosse, WI | Rockford, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 91.8 | 92.2 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 93.6 |
| Housing (rents) | 69.4 | 70.1 |
| Utilities | 89.5 | 89.4 |
| Other services | 99.4 | 99.6 |
| Category | La Crosse | Rockford | Rockford vs La Crosse |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 91.8 | 92.2 | +0.4% |
| Goods | 93.8 | 93.6 | −0.2% |
| Housing (rents) | 69.4 | 70.1 | +1.0% |
| Utilities | 89.5 | 89.4 | −0.2% |
| Other services | 99.4 | 99.6 | +0.1% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,353 | $1,299 | −4.0% |
| Typical home value | $331,000 | $222,000 | −32.8% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in La Crosse | $75,000 | $75,300 | +0.4% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between La Crosse and Rockford has narrowed since 2008: 3.3 points then, 0.4 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- La Crosse, WI
- Rockford, IL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| La Crosse, WI | Rockford, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 93.3 | 96.7 |
| 2009 | 95.3 | 96.6 |
| 2010 | 94.8 | 93.1 |
| 2011 | 93.4 | 93.7 |
| 2012 | 93.2 | 93.9 |
| 2013 | 92.0 | 93.1 |
| 2014 | 95.0 | 93.3 |
| 2015 | 92.8 | 92.5 |
| 2016 | 92.8 | 93.3 |
| 2017 | 91.8 | 91.0 |
| 2018 | 94.1 | 91.1 |
| 2019 | 93.1 | 92.8 |
| 2020 | 89.5 | 91.8 |
| 2021 | 94.0 | 93.2 |
| 2022 | 90.7 | 90.7 |
| 2023 | 90.6 | 90.2 |
| 2024 | 91.8 | 92.2 |
Goods
- La Crosse, WI
- Rockford, IL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| La Crosse, WI | Rockford, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 93.9 | 98.8 |
| 2009 | 95.2 | 97.5 |
| 2010 | 96.1 | 96.4 |
| 2011 | 95.5 | 95.8 |
| 2012 | 96.7 | 96.9 |
| 2013 | 96.5 | 96.7 |
| 2014 | 98.1 | 98.5 |
| 2015 | 97.9 | 98.0 |
| 2016 | 97.0 | 97.3 |
| 2017 | 95.2 | 95.4 |
| 2018 | 97.8 | 97.6 |
| 2019 | 96.4 | 96.5 |
| 2020 | 94.1 | 94.1 |
| 2021 | 94.7 | 94.7 |
| 2022 | 91.8 | 90.8 |
| 2023 | 93.7 | 93.1 |
| 2024 | 93.8 | 93.6 |
Housing (rents)
- La Crosse, WI
- Rockford, IL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| La Crosse, WI | Rockford, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 77.5 | 83.9 |
| 2009 | 85.9 | 87.8 |
| 2010 | 82.0 | 72.8 |
| 2011 | 81.5 | 80.8 |
| 2012 | 77.9 | 79.3 |
| 2013 | 71.4 | 76.2 |
| 2014 | 86.1 | 75.5 |
| 2015 | 81.2 | 77.2 |
| 2016 | 79.9 | 79.5 |
| 2017 | 79.1 | 72.5 |
| 2018 | 80.6 | 66.8 |
| 2019 | 73.1 | 72.7 |
| 2020 | 60.8 | 73.2 |
| 2021 | 82.2 | 77.2 |
| 2022 | 70.2 | 69.4 |
| 2023 | 67.4 | 64.9 |
| 2024 | 69.4 | 70.1 |
Utilities
- La Crosse, WI
- Rockford, IL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| La Crosse, WI | Rockford, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 96.7 | 95.9 |
| 2009 | 98.1 | 92.9 |
| 2010 | 99.1 | 93.1 |
| 2011 | 98.8 | 93.0 |
| 2012 | 97.3 | 89.6 |
| 2013 | 97.7 | 86.0 |
| 2014 | 95.3 | 86.7 |
| 2015 | 92.6 | 84.6 |
| 2016 | 90.5 | 83.0 |
| 2017 | 94.2 | 89.3 |
| 2018 | 97.9 | 91.7 |
| 2019 | 93.3 | 88.4 |
| 2020 | 93.7 | 89.1 |
| 2021 | 95.1 | 91.8 |
| 2022 | 89.8 | 93.4 |
| 2023 | 89.0 | 85.5 |
| 2024 | 89.5 | 89.4 |
Other services
- La Crosse, WI
- Rockford, IL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| La Crosse, WI | Rockford, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.7 | 99.8 |
| 2009 | 98.6 | 99.5 |
| 2010 | 98.1 | 98.9 |
| 2011 | 95.7 | 96.6 |
| 2012 | 96.3 | 97.0 |
| 2013 | 97.0 | 97.7 |
| 2014 | 95.9 | 96.9 |
| 2015 | 93.9 | 95.2 |
| 2016 | 94.7 | 96.2 |
| 2017 | 93.9 | 94.9 |
| 2018 | 95.6 | 96.5 |
| 2019 | 98.3 | 98.5 |
| 2020 | 97.7 | 97.8 |
| 2021 | 97.8 | 98.0 |
| 2022 | 97.7 | 98.2 |
| 2023 | 97.7 | 98.1 |
| 2024 | 99.4 | 99.6 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,299 in Rockford vs $1,353 in La Crosse
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- La Crosse, WI
- Rockford, IL
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| La Crosse, WI | Rockford, IL | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | $640 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | $669 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | $670 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | $656 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | – | $665 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | – | $680 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | – | $691 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | – | $689 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | – | $687 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | – | $704 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | – | $708 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | – | $709 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | – | $719 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | – | $727 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | – | $734 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | – | $739 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | – | $747 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | – | $764 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | – | $764 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | – | $772 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | – | $783 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | – | $794 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | – | $825 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | – | $823 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | – | $864 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | – | $878 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | – | $883 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,050 | $909 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,059 | $923 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,105 | $967 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,144 | $970 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,157 | $971 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,181 | $999 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,208 | $1,024 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,214 | $1,052 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,218 | $1,068 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,228 | $1,072 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,247 | $1,100 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,271 | $1,130 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,284 | $1,129 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,277 | $1,165 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,287 | $1,172 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,295 | $1,214 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,295 | $1,228 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,304 | $1,239 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,328 | $1,269 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,353 | $1,299 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $222,000 in Rockford vs $331,000 in La Crosse
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- La Crosse, WI
- Rockford, IL
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| La Crosse, WI | Rockford, IL | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $171K | $88K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $173K | $89K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $175K | $92K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $178K | $93K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $180K | $96K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $182K | $97K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $184K | $99K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $187K | $102K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $189K | $104K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $192K | $106K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $193K | $106K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $196K | $109K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $198K | $113K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $201K | $114K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $205K | $114K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $205K | $115K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $208K | $119K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $212K | $121K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $214K | $121K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $217K | $122K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $220K | $125K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $223K | $124K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $227K | $125K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $235K | $131K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $240K | $137K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $250K | $142K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $257K | $145K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $261K | $148K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $270K | $156K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $280K | $162K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $281K | $161K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $282K | $161K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $287K | $162K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $294K | $168K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $297K | $174K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $296K | $178K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $300K | $182K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $306K | $188K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $310K | $192K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $313K | $195K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $313K | $199K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $314K | $201K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $315K | $205K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $321K | $210K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $327K | $216K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $329K | $219K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $331K | $222K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.