Kitchen remodel cost in La Crosse, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (120 sq ft)
- $17,900 – $30,400
- Per sq ft
- $145 – $242
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −4%
- US $25,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #127
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to remodel a kitchen in La Crosse, plan on $17,900 to $30,400 for 120 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $145 to $242 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 4% lower than the national one. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 93.8).
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Estimated cost for 120 sq ft in La Crosse, WI, standard level
$21,600 to $26,600
About $174 to $213 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 22% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,100 | $19,600 |
| Labor | $4,800 | $5,900 |
| Permits and fees | $730 | $1,100 |
| Total | $21,600 | $26,600 |
Cost breakdown for 120 sq ft in La Crosse, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $13,400 | $17,800 | $22,300 | 74% |
| Labor | $4,000 | $5,350 | $6,700 | 22% |
| Permits and fees | $460 | $920 | $1,400 | 4% |
| Total | $17,900 | $24,100 | $30,400 | 100% |
What is behind the La Crosse number
Labor is 22% of the midpoint bill here, against 20% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is carpenters (45%), electricians (15%), plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (15%), tile and stone setters (10%), drywall and ceiling tile installers (10%), painters, construction and maintenance (5%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In La Crosse the blended ratio comes out at 1.07.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the La Crosse metro is 93.8 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 120 sq ft comes to $17,800, compared with $19,000 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (91.8) and land at $460 to $1,400.
Data note: 10% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in La Crosse. The wage table below marks each row.
How La Crosse compares
Same job, same size (120 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Rochester is the priciest of the group at $24,800. Waterloo is the cheapest at $23,400.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse, WIthis page | $17,900 – $30,400 | $24,100 | |
| Rochester, MN65 miles | $18,400 – $31,200 | $24,800 | +3% |
| Dubuque, IA85 miles | $17,400 – $29,600 | $23,500 | −2% |
| Eau Claire, WI85 miles | $17,900 – $30,500 | $24,200 | level |
| Madison, WI85 miles | $18,100 – $30,900 | $24,500 | +2% |
| Waterloo, IA105 miles | $17,400 – $29,500 | $23,400 | −3% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $18,000 – $30,700 | $24,300 | +1% |
| United States | $18,500 – $31,500 | $25,000 | +4% |
Across 300 US metros, La Crosse comes in at #127 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $30,000; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $22,100 (midpoints, 120 sq ft). Statewide, La Crosse is 1% below the Wisconsin figure.
Other Wisconsin metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $18,100 – $30,800 | $24,400 | +1% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $18,100 – $30,900 | $24,500 | +2% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $18,000 – $30,600 | $24,300 | +1% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $18,000 – $30,600 | $24,300 | +1% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $18,600 – $31,700 | $25,100 | +4% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $17,900 – $30,500 | $24,200 | level |
Cities with a workforce like La Crosse's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is La Crosse against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $17,200 – $29,300 | $23,300 | −3% |
| Waterloo, IA | 84,260 jobs | $17,400 – $29,500 | $23,400 | −3% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $17,900 – $30,500 | $24,200 | level |
| Houma, LA | 83,440 jobs | $16,900 – $28,700 | $22,800 | −5% |
La Crosse labor market for kitchen remodel
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 6 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for La Crosse is 1.07 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 45%) the local median is $28.34 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.93 and $36.95 an hour. BLS counts 450 of them working in the area, 53.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Electricians (47-2111), 15% of the weighting: a median of $37.87 an hour, 25% above the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $29.32 and $45.60 an hour. About 320 work in the metro. That is 37.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 48.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 15%) the local median is $39.72 an hour, which is 30% above the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $29.32 and $47.12 an hour. BLS counts 280 of them working in the area, 33.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is about average.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 10% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the La Crosse metro, so we used the Wisconsin statewide median: $30.14 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $27.44 and $36.42 an hour.
Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081), 10% of the weighting: a median of $26.36 an hour, 7% below the US median of $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $18.81 and $30.43 an hour. About 30 work in the metro. That is 3.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 5.3 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141, weighted 5%) the local median is $23.79 an hour, which is in line with the national $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $20.32 and $28.38 an hour. BLS counts 60 of them working in the area, 7.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 14.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($36.95 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $660. At the 25th percentile ($23.93) it shrinks by about $340. The total moves by 2.7% or 1.4%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 84,380 jobs in the La Crosse-Onalaska area. That makes it the 228th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.05% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 45% | $23.93 | $28.34 | $36.95 | $29.12 | 0.97 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 15% | $29.32 | $37.87 | $45.60 | $30.38 | 1.25 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 15% | $29.32 | $39.72 | $47.12 | $30.67 | 1.30 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 10% | $27.44 | $30.14 | $36.42 | $26.77 | 1.13 | state |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $18.81 | $26.36 | $30.43 | $28.33 | 0.93 | metro |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 5% | $20.32 | $23.79 | $28.38 | $23.75 | 1.00 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.07 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a La Crosse bid
Cabinets
In a 10x10 kitchen, cabinets alone are $3,000-$11,000 for stock or semi-custom and up to $26,500 for fully custom.
Counters
New countertops are $50-$150 per square foot installed; HomeGuide gives $1,500-$6,000 for an average kitchen.
Structure
Moving or removing walls can need a structural engineer at $1,900-$3,700+.
Planning more than one job in La Crosse?
Because every project leans on different trades, La Crosse's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, shower pan runs +9% and window replacement −3%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,100 – $13,800 | −2% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,850 – $24,100 | +3% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,400 – $14,500 | −3% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $38,400 – $77,800 | +1% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,100 – $3,000 | +9% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $310 – $1,500 | +1% |
Cost by quality level and size in La Crosse
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for La Crosse wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$17,900 to $22,900
Update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout
Standard
$21,600 to $26,600
Full remodel, mid-range finishes, some layout changes
Premium
$25,400 to $30,400
Large or custom remodel, high-end finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (100 sq ft) | $15,000 – $19,200 | $18,100 – $22,400 | $21,300 – $25,500 |
| 10x12 kitchen (120 sq ft) | $17,900 – $22,900 | $21,600 – $26,600 | $25,400 – $30,400 |
| average kitchen (200 sq ft) | $29,500 – $37,500 | $35,500 – $43,600 | $41,600 – $49,700 |
| large kitchen (300 sq ft) | $43,900 – $55,900 | $52,900 – $64,900 | $61,900 – $73,900 |
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Detailed kitchen remodel report for La Crosse, WI, $9
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Kitchen remodel in La Crosse: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a kitchen in La Crosse?
For 120 sq ft, expect $17,900 to $30,400 in the La Crosse area. A standard-spec job lands at $21,600 to $26,600. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen remodel in La Crosse?
About $145 to $242 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $460 to $1,400 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $150 to $250.
+Is kitchen remodel cheaper in La Crosse or Rochester?
Rochester is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 120 sq ft there is $24,800, which is 3% more than La Crosse ($24,100). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in La Crosse?
About 22% at the midpoint, or $5,350 out of $24,100. Materials are 74% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 20%.
+What would average kitchen (200 sq ft) cost in La Crosse?
$29,500 to $49,700. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen remodel need a permit in La Crosse?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $460 to $1,400 for fees in the La Crosse area (our national range of $500 to $1,500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is La Crosse expensive for kitchen remodel compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
La Crosse is 1% below the Wisconsin statewide estimate ($24,300 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Wisconsin; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in La Crosse?
The BLS median is $28.34 an hour in the La Crosse area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.93 to $36.95.
+What do basic and premium kitchen remodel work cost in La Crosse?
For 120 sq ft, basic work runs $17,900 to $22,900 and premium work $25,400 to $30,400. Basic means: update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout. Premium means: large or custom remodel, high-end finishes.
Kitchen remodel near La Crosse
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- Cost to Renovate: Renovation Labor Report 2026: Where the Money Goes (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Note on derived figures: Materials = 70% of the low installed price and 85% of the high one, from HomeGuide's statement that professional labor is 15-30% of a kitchen remodeling budget. Cost to Renovate's mid-range kitchen split (45% labor, 50% materials) sits inside that band.