Onalaska, WI Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Onalaska, WI Summary

Cost of living in Onalaska research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Onalaska is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Wisconsin, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Onalaska is 103, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Onalaska is 1.0x higher than the national average.

  • Onalaska ranks as the #91 cheapest in Wisconsin out of 146.

  • Onalaska ranks as the #2,952 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Onalaska is $357,006.

  • The median income in Onalaska is $84,898.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
103
Onalaska's Overall Cost Of Living
1.0x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Onalaska, WI?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Onalaska has an overall cost of living index of 103, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to Wisconsin, Onalaska has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Wisconsin's index of 95.

The standard of living in Onalaska ranks as #91 most affordable out of the 146 places we measured in Wisconsin. By definition, that implies Onalaska ranks as the #55 most expensive place in the Badger State.

For more reading on life in Onalaska, check out:

91 out of 146
In Wisconsin
2,952 out of 6,489
In America

Onalaska Cost Of Living Vs. Wisconsin

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Onalaska. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Onalaska is 102.

  • The Groceries index in Onalaska is 98.

  • The Health index in Onalaska is 111.

  • The Housing index in Onalaska is 105.

  • The Transportation index in Onalaska is 100.

  • The Utilities index in Onalaska is 102.

Living Expense Onalaska Wisconsin National Average
Overall 103 95 100
Services 102 98 100
Groceries 98 100 100
Health 111 111 100
Housing 105 88 100
Transportation 100 100 100
Utilities 102 102 100
For more reading on cost of living around Wisconsin, check out:
Onalaska Cost of Living Vs. WI

Onalaska, WI Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Wisconsin, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Onalaska is $357,006.

  • The Median Rent in Onalaska is $1,096.

  • The Median Income in Onalaska is $84,898.

  • The Home Value To Income in Onalaska is 4.2x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Onalaska is 0.15x.

Statistic Onalaska Wisconsin United States
Median Home Value $357,006 $328,216 $303,400
Median Rent $1,096 $1,045 $1,348
Median Income $84,898 $75,670 $78,538
Home Value To Income 4.2x 4.3x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.15x 0.17x 0.21x
$357,006
Median Home Value
$1,096
Median Rent
$84,898
Median Income

Onalaska, WI Costs By Category

Detailed Onalaska Services Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item Onalaska Wisconsin
Shampoo $1.23 $1.28
Movie $10.0 $12.13
Bowling $15.67 $18
Haircut $20.83 $24.26
Beauty Salon $39.17 $45.56

Detailed Onalaska Groceries Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item Onalaska Wisconsin
Ground Beef $5.94 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.61 $1.57
Milk $4.58 $4.67
Potatoes $4.49 $4.93
Pizza $12.29 $12.09
Beer $8.47 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.67 $3.7

Detailed Onalaska Health Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item Onalaska Wisconsin
Optometrist $125.0 $125.68
Doctor $179.67 $135.78
Dentist $107.33 $113.29

Detailed Onalaska Transportation Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item Onalaska Wisconsin
Gasoline $3.36 $3.46
Tire Balancing $62.89 $59.92

Detailed Onalaska Utilities Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item Onalaska Wisconsin
All Electricity $193.62 $193.99
Phone $197.22 $192.25

Onalaska SnackAbility

8.5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8/10
Housing
8
Affordability
8
Diversity
7
Safety
6
Amenities
8.5
Education
9
Commute
9

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Onalaska

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Onalaska. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • La Crosse, WI has a cost of living index of 97, 0.9x Onalaska.

  • Winona, MN has a cost of living index of 96, 0.9x Onalaska.

  • Holmen, WI has a cost of living index of 105, 1.0x Onalaska.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Onalaska
La Crosse, WI 51,791 97 0.9x
Winona, MN 25,998 96 0.9x
Holmen, WI 11,027 105 1.0x
Sparta, WI 9,921 86 0.8x
Tomah, WI 9,505 87 0.8x
Decorah, IA 7,597 87 0.8x
West Salem, WI 5,268 100 1.0x
La Crescent, MN 5,266 100 1.0x

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