Cottage Grove, WI vs Onalaska, WI

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Onalaska is 27.5% cheaper than Cottage Grove. With a cost index of 88 vs 112, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Onalaska to Cottage Grove should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Cottage Grove is $1,500/month compared to $1,096/month in Onalaska — a 37% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Onalaska is more affordable at $279,100 median vs $401,900.

Median household income in Cottage Grove is $132,717 compared to $84,898 in Onalaska (+56.3%). While Cottage Grove is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Cottage Grove spend roughly 13.6% of their income on rent, less than the 15.5% in Onalaska.