Eau Claire, WI vs Kenosha, WI

Eau Claire is moderately more affordable than Kenosha, with a 7.8% lower cost of living index. Eau Claire scores 80 compared to 87 for Kenosha, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Kenosha can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Eau Claire is $971/month compared to $1,137/month in Kenosha — a 15% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Eau Claire has cheaper rent, Kenosha actually has lower median home values ($210,500 vs $228,000).

Median household income in Eau Claire is $65,369 compared to $68,532 in Kenosha (-4.6%). The higher salaries in Kenosha partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Eau Claire spend roughly 17.8% of their income on rent, less than the 19.9% in Kenosha.