How much does it cost to rent in Eau Claire, WI?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Eau Claire, WI is $1,214. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Eau Claire cheaper than other Wisconsin cities?

Eau Claire is among the more affordable cities in Wisconsin, ranking #44 out of 62 cities at $1,214/mo.

When was Eau Claire rent data last updated?

Eau Claire rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · WI

Eau Claire

Name: Average Rent Prices in Eau Claire, WI
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 70,322·44th most expensive in Wisconsin·Eau Claire rents are up 16.3% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$1,214/mo

Year-over-Year

+16.3%

Month-over-Month

+1.4%

vs US Median

-$751

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Eau Claire · $1,214

More affordable than 92% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Affordability

22% of income

VERY AFFORDABLE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,214/mo, rent takes about 22% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$49,000/yr

Local median income

$67,395/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Eau Claire's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$840

1 BR

$900

2 BR

$1,105

3 BR

$1,520

4 BR+

$1,600

Research median

$1,105/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$14,568/yr

At $1,214/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 16.3% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+16.3% YoY, +1.4% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Eau Claire, WI is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, 36.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

70,322

Median income

$67,395

Median age

32.9

Renters

45.6%

Age distribution

17.7%

34.9%

21.3%

16.3%

Under 1817.7%

18–3434.9%

35–5421.3%

55–649.8%

65+16.3%

Gender

48.2%

51.8%

Male48.2%

Female51.8%

Race & ethnicity

86%

White86%

Black1.8%

Hispanic2.9%

Asian5.4%

Other3.9%

Education (25+)

25.5%

34%

36.7%

No HS diploma3.7%

HS diploma25.5%

Some college34%

Bachelor's+36.7%

Housing tenure

54.4%

45.6%

Owner54.4%

Renter45.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2022 vs 2026

How Eau Claire, WI has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,008 → $1,214

up 20.4%

Income

$60,562 → $67,395

up 11.3%

Population

69,030 → 70,322

up 1.9%

Renter share

43.7% → 45.6%

+1.9 pts

Bachelor's+

33.6% → 36.7%

+3.1 pts

Median age

32.4 → 32.9

+0.5 yrs

Rent in Eau Claire, WI has climbed 20.4% since 2022, going from about $1,008 per month to roughly $1,214 today. Median household income grew from $60,562 to $67,395 between 2021 and 2024, a 11.3% shift. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 9.1 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 69,030 to 70,322 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.9% change. About 45.6% of households rent today, against 43.7% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 33.6% to 36.7%. Taken together, the five-year picture in Eau Claire, WI reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

Community

Discussions about Eau Claire

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View Eau Claire rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Eau Claire on your salary?

At $1,214/mo, how Eau Claire rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $89,756/yr · Rent = 16.2% income

very comfortable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $63,726/yr · Rent = 22.9% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $73,407/yr · Rent = 19.8% income

very comfortable

Software Developer

Avg $131,205/yr · Rent = 11.1% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $167,647/yr · Rent = 8.7% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $59,670/yr · Rent = 24.4% income

affordable

Truck Driver

Avg $53,875/yr · Rent = 27% income

affordable

Electrician

Avg $66,405/yr · Rent = 21.9% income

affordable

By apartment size

Eau Claire rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Eau Claire. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Eau Claire

About renting in Eau Claire, WI

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Eau Claire is $1,214/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $840/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,105/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $900/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,520/mo.

At 22% of local median household income ($67,395/yr), Eau Claire ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 16.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Eau Claire an affordable city for renters?

Eau Claire is considered very affordable for renters. At $1,214/mo, rent takes approximately 22% of the local median household income ($67,395/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Eau Claire falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Eau Claire?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $49,000/year (~$24/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,214/mo in Eau Claire. The local median household income is $67,395/yr, meaning the typical Eau Claire household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Eau Claire?

Rent in Eau Claire has increased 16.3% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Eau Claire neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Eau Claire are 54703 ($1,190/mo), and 54701 ($1,228/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Eau Claire is $1,214/mo.

How does Eau Claire rent compare to other cities in Wisconsin?

Eau Claire is one of the more affordable cities in Wisconsin for rent, ranking #44 out of 62 tracked cities at $1,214/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Eau Claire?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Eau Claire ($1,214/mo): Menomonie ($1,052/mo), La Crosse ($1,080/mo), Winona ($1,171/mo).

What percentage of Eau Claire residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 45.6% of Eau Claire households are renters, while 54.4% are owner-occupied. Eau Claire leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Eau Claire rent compare to the national average?

Eau Claire's median rent of $1,214/mo is $751 (38%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Wisconsin, it ranks #44 out of 62 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

22%

VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,214/mo, rent takes ~22% of Eau Claire's median household income ($67,395/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Eau Claire 22%Benchmark 30%

State income tax3.5–7.65%

Run the Eau Claire affordability calculator →

Nearby cities