Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Living in Eau Claire, Wisconsin is about 5% cheaper than the national average, with a cost of living index of 95 (US = 100). Typical rent is $1,147 a month, 41% below the national figure of $1,932, and regular gas costs $3.88 a gallon versus $3.98 nationally as of November 11, 2026. Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance take about 35% of the area's $72,893 median household income.
Key Numbers
Gas (Regular)
$3.88
National: $3.98
Avg Rent (All)
$1,147
National: $1,932
Grocery Inflation
1.77%
Year-over-year
Fast Food Avg
$13.49
Combo meal
Electricity
19.41¢
per kWh · ~$175/mo
Car Insurance
$106/mo
$1,268/yr
Median Household Income
$72,893
34.7% goes to essentials
Car Insurance
Avg $1,268 in Eau Claire. Compare rates:
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Some prices above are regional estimates. Submit a receipt from a local store to help us show what Eau Claire residents actually pay.
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Avg rent $1,147/mo in Eau Claire. Browse listings:
Grocery Prices
Grocery Prices — 2000 to Present
National BLS averages · submit local prices below ↓
Eggs (dozen)
Bird flu volatility
$0.97 in 2000 → $2.32 BLS avg
Milk (gallon)
$2.79 in 2000 → $4.10 BLS avg
Ground Beef (lb)
$1.48 in 2000 → $6.75 BLS avg
Bread (loaf)
$0.91 in 2000 → $1.86 BLS avg
Chicken Breast (lb)
$1.06 in 2000 → $2.03 BLS avg
Butter (lb)
$3.98 BLS avg
Bacon (lb)
$2.75 in 2000 → $6.69 BLS avg
Cheddar Cheese (lb)
$3.84 in 2000 → $6.13 BLS avg
Pasta (lb)
$0.88 in 2000 → $1.38 BLS avg
Rice (5 lb)
$2.50 in 2000 → $5.50 BLS avg
Coffee (12 oz)
$2.65 in 2000 → $6.94 BLS avg
Orange Juice (64 oz)
Citrus shortage
$5.42 estimate
Potatoes (5 lb)
$1.96 in 2000 → $4.95 BLS avg
Apples (3 lb)
$5.20 estimate
Tomatoes (lb)
$1.44 in 2000 → $2.08 BLS avg
Lettuce (head)
$0.75 in 2000 → $1.96 BLS avg
Cooking Oil (48 oz)
$7.76 estimate
Yogurt (32 oz)
$4.94 estimate
Cereal (family size)
$6.20 estimate
Frozen Pizza
$8.65 estimate
| Item | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2022 | 2026 | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs (dozen)Bird flu volatility | $0.97 | $1.21 | $1.79 | $2.11 | $1.46 | $1.93 | $2.32 | +137.9% |
| Milk (gallon) | $2.79 | $3.30 | $3.24 | $3.76 | $3.25 | $3.79 | $4.10 | +47.3% |
| Ground Beef (lb) | $1.48 | $2.19 | $2.28 | $4.24 | $3.89 | $4.55 | $6.75 | +355.5% |
| Bread (loaf) | $0.91 | $1.00 | $1.36 | $1.48 | $1.35 | $1.55 | $1.86 | +105.2% |
| Chicken Breast (lb) | $1.06 | $1.03 | $1.26 | $1.55 | $1.41 | $1.62 | $2.03 | +91.3% |
| Butter (lb) | — | — | — | — | $3.86 | $3.67 | $3.98 | -4.2% since 2018 |
| Bacon (lb) | $2.75 | $3.37 | $3.63 | $5.59 | $5.50 | $7.22 | $6.69 | +143.1% |
| Cheddar Cheese (lb) | $3.84 | $4.21 | $4.72 | $5.40 | $5.20 | $5.32 | $6.13 | +59.6% |
| Pasta (lb) | $0.88 | $0.94 | $1.15 | $1.26 | $1.23 | $1.12 | $1.38 | +57.1% |
| Rice (5 lb) | $2.50 | $2.98 | $3.77 | $3.46 | $3.58 | $4.16 | $5.50 | +120.6% |
| Coffee (12 oz) | $2.65 | $2.29 | $2.86 | $3.55 | $3.13 | $3.85 | $6.94 | +161.3% |
| Orange Juice (64 oz)Citrus shortageLocal estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $3.72 | $5.42 | +45.7% since 2022 |
| Potatoes (5 lb) | $1.96 | $2.29 | $2.81 | $3.34 | $4.01 | $3.96 | $4.95 | +152.6% |
| Apples (3 lb)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.49 | $5.20 | +15.8% since 2022 |
| Tomatoes (lb) | $1.44 | $1.66 | $1.84 | $2.09 | $2.22 | $1.89 | $2.08 | +44.4% |
| Lettuce (head) | $0.75 | $0.82 | $0.90 | $1.17 | $1.34 | — | $1.96 | +162.3% |
| Cooking Oil (48 oz)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $5.54 | $7.76 | +40.1% since 2022 |
| Yogurt (32 oz)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.15 | $4.94 | +19.0% since 2022 |
| Cereal (family size)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.79 | $6.20 | +29.4% since 2022 |
| Frozen PizzaLocal estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $6.31 | $8.65 | +37.1% since 2022 |
Dining & Restaurants
Fast Food Meal
$13.49
Casual Dining
$24.93
Monthly Spend
$441.46
+5.41% YoYChain Restaurant Meal Prices — 2022 vs. Today
Combo meal / typical order for one
McDonald's
2022: $8.36
$13.49
+61.4%Wendy's
2022: $9.44
$14.57
+54.3%Chipotle
2022: $10.12
$15.11
+49.3%Starbucks
2022: $4.58
$6.36
+38.9%Eating out more? Save on groceries with Ibotta and cook at home more often.
Looking for an Apartment in Eau Claire?
Average 1BR: $941/mo · 2BR: $1,353/mo
Eau Claire Cost of Living FAQ
Is Eau Claire, WI expensive to live in?
Eau Claire has a cost of living index of 95, where 100 is the US average, so it is about 5% cheaper than average. It is the 6th most affordable of the 18 Wisconsin cities we track.
What is the average rent in Eau Claire, WI?
Typical rent in Eau Claire is $1,147 a month for all home types as of September 2026, 41% below the national figure of $1,932. One bedroom units average about $941 and two bedrooms about $1,353. Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index for the metro area.
Is rent going up in Eau Claire?
Rent in Eau Claire rose 4.3% over the past year, faster than the 2.7% change nationally.
How much is gas in Eau Claire?
Regular unleaded costs about $3.88 a gallon in Eau Claire as of November 11, 2026, based on the AAA average for Wisconsin. That is 3% below the national average of $3.98.
How much is electricity in Eau Claire?
Homes in Wisconsin pay an average of 19.4 cents per kWh (EIA), versus 18.4 cents nationally. At 900 kWh a month, a typical bill in Eau Claire is about $175.
How much is car insurance in Eau Claire?
Full coverage car insurance averages $1,268 a year in Wisconsin, or about $106 a month (Bankrate and NAIC state average), compared with $2,150 a year nationally.
How much do you need to live in Eau Claire?
Median household income in the Eau Claire area is $72,893 (Census ACS 2023, county level). Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance add up to about $25,301 a year, or 35% of that income. Groceries are counted at $5,846 a year, the average household spend on food at home in the region (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey).
How does Eau Claire compare with the rest of Wisconsin?
Rent in Eau Claire is 12% below the $1,309 average across the 18 Wisconsin cities we track, and its cost of living index of 95 compares with a state average of 95.
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