EAU CLAIRE, WI – According to a report released by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER), Eau Claire had an overall cost of living of 92.9 for the second quarter of 2018. Published since 1968, the Cost of Living Index has been the most consistent and trusted source of city-to-city cost comparisons available. The national average equals 100 and each participant’s index is a percentage of the average for all places. The lower the cost of living index, the cheaper goods and services are in that area.

Prices of consumer goods and services are collected by Eau Claire’s Economic Development Division three times a year in order to measure regional differences. The composite index is based on the prices of standardized goods and services in six weighted categories – housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, health care, and miscellaneous goods and services.

Eau Claire’s composite index improved its relative position from 93.9 in the first quarter and from 94.8 in the second quarter of 2017. This was the second lowest of participating Wisconsin urban areas. Eau Claire’s cost of housing remained the most affordable category relative to other cities, with a housing index of 76.2 that ranked the lowest of the five qualifying Wisconsin urban areas. Eau Claire’s grocery cost index of 88.5 also ranked below the national average and represented a decline from quarter one of 2018.

The full report is available upon request.