Fond du Lac, WI vs La Crosse, WI

Fond du Lac is moderately more affordable than La Crosse, with a 5.5% lower cost of living index. Fond du Lac scores 73 compared to 77 for La Crosse, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of La Crosse can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Fond du Lac is $905/month compared to $977/month in La Crosse — a 7% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fond du Lac is more affordable at $161,300 median vs $196,600.

Median household income in Fond du Lac is $61,620 compared to $53,803 in La Crosse (+14.5%). Fond du Lac offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Fond du Lac spend roughly 17.6% of their income on rent, less than the 21.8% in La Crosse.