Rockford, IL vs La Crosse, WI: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in La Crosse, WI and Rockford, IL are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Rockford works out to about $74,700 in La Crosse, before taxes.
- Housing is 1.0% lower in La Crosse, goods 0.2% higher and other services 0.1% lower, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,353 a month in La Crosse and $1,299 in Rockford, $648 a year more in La Crosse (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $331,000 in La Crosse and $222,000 in Rockford.
- 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 Rockford and La Crosse
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Rockford, IL
- La Crosse, WI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Rockford, IL | La Crosse, WI | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 92.2 | 91.8 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 93.8 |
| Housing (rents) | 70.1 | 69.4 |
| Utilities | 89.4 | 89.5 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 99.4 |
| Category | Rockford | La Crosse | La Crosse vs Rockford |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 92.2 | 91.8 | −0.4% |
| Goods | 93.6 | 93.8 | +0.2% |
| Housing (rents) | 70.1 | 69.4 | −1.0% |
| Utilities | 89.4 | 89.5 | +0.2% |
| Other services | 99.6 | 99.4 | −0.1% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,299 | $1,353 | +4.2% |
| Typical home value | $222,000 | $331,000 | +48.9% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Rockford | $75,000 | $74,700 | −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 Rockford and La Crosse has narrowed since 2008: 3.3 points then, 0.4 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Rockford, IL
- La Crosse, WI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Rockford, IL | La Crosse, WI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 96.7 | 93.3 |
| 2009 | 96.6 | 95.3 |
| 2010 | 93.1 | 94.8 |
| 2011 | 93.7 | 93.4 |
| 2012 | 93.9 | 93.2 |
| 2013 | 93.1 | 92.0 |
| 2014 | 93.3 | 95.0 |
| 2015 | 92.5 | 92.8 |
| 2016 | 93.3 | 92.8 |
| 2017 | 91.0 | 91.8 |
| 2018 | 91.1 | 94.1 |
| 2019 | 92.8 | 93.1 |
| 2020 | 91.8 | 89.5 |
| 2021 | 93.2 | 94.0 |
| 2022 | 90.7 | 90.7 |
| 2023 | 90.2 | 90.6 |
| 2024 | 92.2 | 91.8 |
Goods
- Rockford, IL
- La Crosse, WI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Rockford, IL | La Crosse, WI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.8 | 93.9 |
| 2009 | 97.5 | 95.2 |
| 2010 | 96.4 | 96.1 |
| 2011 | 95.8 | 95.5 |
| 2012 | 96.9 | 96.7 |
| 2013 | 96.7 | 96.5 |
| 2014 | 98.5 | 98.1 |
| 2015 | 98.0 | 97.9 |
| 2016 | 97.3 | 97.0 |
| 2017 | 95.4 | 95.2 |
| 2018 | 97.6 | 97.8 |
| 2019 | 96.5 | 96.4 |
| 2020 | 94.1 | 94.1 |
| 2021 | 94.7 | 94.7 |
| 2022 | 90.8 | 91.8 |
| 2023 | 93.1 | 93.7 |
| 2024 | 93.6 | 93.8 |
Housing (rents)
- Rockford, IL
- La Crosse, WI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Rockford, IL | La Crosse, WI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 83.9 | 77.5 |
| 2009 | 87.8 | 85.9 |
| 2010 | 72.8 | 82.0 |
| 2011 | 80.8 | 81.5 |
| 2012 | 79.3 | 77.9 |
| 2013 | 76.2 | 71.4 |
| 2014 | 75.5 | 86.1 |
| 2015 | 77.2 | 81.2 |
| 2016 | 79.5 | 79.9 |
| 2017 | 72.5 | 79.1 |
| 2018 | 66.8 | 80.6 |
| 2019 | 72.7 | 73.1 |
| 2020 | 73.2 | 60.8 |
| 2021 | 77.2 | 82.2 |
| 2022 | 69.4 | 70.2 |
| 2023 | 64.9 | 67.4 |
| 2024 | 70.1 | 69.4 |
Utilities
- Rockford, IL
- La Crosse, WI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Rockford, IL | La Crosse, WI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.9 | 96.7 |
| 2009 | 92.9 | 98.1 |
| 2010 | 93.1 | 99.1 |
| 2011 | 93.0 | 98.8 |
| 2012 | 89.6 | 97.3 |
| 2013 | 86.0 | 97.7 |
| 2014 | 86.7 | 95.3 |
| 2015 | 84.6 | 92.6 |
| 2016 | 83.0 | 90.5 |
| 2017 | 89.3 | 94.2 |
| 2018 | 91.7 | 97.9 |
| 2019 | 88.4 | 93.3 |
| 2020 | 89.1 | 93.7 |
| 2021 | 91.8 | 95.1 |
| 2022 | 93.4 | 89.8 |
| 2023 | 85.5 | 89.0 |
| 2024 | 89.4 | 89.5 |
Other services
- Rockford, IL
- La Crosse, WI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Rockford, IL | La Crosse, WI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.8 | 98.7 |
| 2009 | 99.5 | 98.6 |
| 2010 | 98.9 | 98.1 |
| 2011 | 96.6 | 95.7 |
| 2012 | 97.0 | 96.3 |
| 2013 | 97.7 | 97.0 |
| 2014 | 96.9 | 95.9 |
| 2015 | 95.2 | 93.9 |
| 2016 | 96.2 | 94.7 |
| 2017 | 94.9 | 93.9 |
| 2018 | 96.5 | 95.6 |
| 2019 | 98.5 | 98.3 |
| 2020 | 97.8 | 97.7 |
| 2021 | 98.0 | 97.8 |
| 2022 | 98.2 | 97.7 |
| 2023 | 98.1 | 97.7 |
| 2024 | 99.6 | 99.4 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,353 in La Crosse vs $1,299 in Rockford
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Rockford, IL
- La Crosse, WI
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Rockford, IL | La Crosse, WI | 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 | $909 | $1,050 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $923 | $1,059 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $967 | $1,105 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $970 | $1,144 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $971 | $1,157 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $999 | $1,181 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,024 | $1,208 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,052 | $1,214 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,068 | $1,218 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,072 | $1,228 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,100 | $1,247 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,130 | $1,271 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,129 | $1,284 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,165 | $1,277 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,172 | $1,287 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,214 | $1,295 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,228 | $1,295 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,239 | $1,304 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,269 | $1,328 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,299 | $1,353 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $331,000 in La Crosse vs $222,000 in Rockford
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Rockford, IL
- La Crosse, WI
- 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
| Rockford, IL | La Crosse, WI | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $88K | $171K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $89K | $173K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $92K | $175K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $93K | $178K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $96K | $180K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $97K | $182K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $99K | $184K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $102K | $187K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $104K | $189K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $106K | $192K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $106K | $193K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $109K | $196K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $113K | $198K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $114K | $201K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $114K | $205K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $115K | $205K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $119K | $208K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $121K | $212K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $121K | $214K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $122K | $217K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $125K | $220K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $124K | $223K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $125K | $227K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $131K | $235K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $137K | $240K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $142K | $250K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $145K | $257K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $148K | $261K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $156K | $270K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $162K | $280K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $161K | $281K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $161K | $282K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $162K | $287K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $168K | $294K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $174K | $297K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $178K | $296K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $182K | $300K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $188K | $306K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $192K | $310K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $195K | $313K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $199K | $313K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $201K | $314K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $205K | $315K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $210K | $321K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $216K | $327K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $219K | $329K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $222K | $331K | $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.