Eau Claire, WI at a glance
Median household income
$67,395$5,616 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Eau Claire, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Eau Claire, WI? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Eau Claire, WI MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $932 | $11,184 | $37,280 | 16.6% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $962 | $11,544 | $38,480 | 17.1% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,181 | $14,172 | $47,240 | 21% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,582 | $18,984 | $63,280 | 28.2% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,588 | $19,056 | $63,520 | 28.3% |
What a typical income covers in Eau Claire, WI
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $67,395 a year ($5,616 a month before tax).
What $67,395 leaves after Wisconsin taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Wisconsin tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Wisconsin
Living in Eau Claire, WI: common questions
What is the median household income in Eau Claire, WI?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Eau Claire, WI is $67,395 per year (approximately $5,616 per month).
What is the average rent in Eau Claire, WI?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $932 for a studio, $962 for one bedroom, $1,181 for two, $1,582 for three and $1,588 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Eau Claire, WI expensive to live in?
Prices there run 7.2% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 92.8, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Eau Claire, WI?
To keep a $1,181 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $47,240 a year, or $3,937 a month. That is 70% of what the typical household in Eau Claire, WI earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Eau Claire, WI?
On the local median income of $67,395 ($5,616 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,808 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,685 for everything else and $1,123 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,181 takes 42% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Eau Claire, WI?
Homes in Wisconsin paid 19.6¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $176. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.