Eau Claire, WI vs Janesville, WI

Eau Claire, WI and Janesville, WI have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.6% difference in their overall index. Eau Claire scores 80 while Janesville scores 81 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Eau Claire is $971/month compared to $1,037/month in Janesville — a 6% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Eau Claire has cheaper rent, Janesville actually has lower median home values ($209,700 vs $228,000).

Median household income in Eau Claire is $65,369 compared to $71,664 in Janesville (-8.8%). While Janesville is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Eau Claire spend roughly 17.8% of their income on rent, more than the 17.4% in Janesville.