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Eau Claire, WI

Cost of living in Eau Claire County, WI

Part of the Eau Claire Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$2,857/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 106,328 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $889 31%
Healthcare $480 17%
Federal tax $471 16%
Groceries $329 12%
Transport $320 11%
Energy $179 6%
State tax $139 5%
Water $50 2%

Rent in Eau Claire County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$831
per month
1 bedroom
$889
per month
2 bedroom
$1,092
per month
3 bedroom
$1,507
per month
4 bedroom
$1,581
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Eau Claire County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$71,834
per year
Individual earnings
$38,856
per year
Per capita
$40,845
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Eau Claire County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$242,400
Annual property tax
$3,461

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Eau Claire County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$121
per month · 17.3¢/kWh
Natural gas
$58
per month
Annual total
$2,148
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Eau Claire County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
6.4%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Eau Claire County

State and local tax rates for Wisconsin.

State income tax
7.7%
Top marginal rate
State sales tax
5.0%
Combined sales tax
5.4%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Eau Claire County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
17.7 min
Drive alone
77.1%
Public transit
0.8%
Work from home
11.6%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Eau Claire County

What it costs to live in Eau Claire County each month.

Single person
$2,857
per month
  • Rent $889
  • Energy $179
  • Water $50
  • Groceries $329
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $471
  • State tax $139
Couple
$4,327
per month
  • Rent $1,092
  • Energy $215
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $545
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $846
  • State tax $285
Family
$6,873
per month
  • Rent $1,507
  • Energy $268
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $827
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $846
  • State tax $285

Frequently asked questions about Eau Claire County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Eau Claire County?

In Eau Claire County, WI, a one-bedroom apartment averages $889 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,092 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,507 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Eau Claire County?

In Eau Claire County, WI, the average household income is $71,834 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $38,856 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Eau Claire County?

The estimated cost of living in Eau Claire County, WI is approximately $2,857 per month for a single person, $4,327 for a couple, $6,873 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Eau Claire County?

The combined sales tax rate in Eau Claire County, WI is 5.44%, which includes the Wisconsin state rate of 5.00% plus an average local rate of 0.44%.

Is Eau Claire County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Eau Claire County, WI would need approximately $2,857 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $71,834 per year ($5,986 per month). Eau Claire County is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in Eau Claire County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Eau Claire County, WI is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 6.4% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Eau Claire County?

The average home value in Eau Claire County, WI is $242,400, with average annual property taxes of $3,461, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Eau Claire County compare to other areas?

You can compare Eau Claire County, WI with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Eau Claire County is in the Eau Claire, WI metro area.

Other counties in Wisconsin

Browse the full list of counties in Wisconsin, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Wisconsin

Compare Eau Claire County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources