May 2012: Kiplinger.com names Eau Claire 7th Best City for Cheapskates! This means your dollar will stretch a lot further in Eau Claire compared to other cities. The study looked at metropolitan areas where the cost of living is low, but income levels are high relative to those costs. Kiplinger also considered the amount of free (or almost free) things to do that the area has to offer, citing the Chippewa River Trail System and Lake Wissota specifically.