Muskegon, MI vs Eau Claire, WI: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Eau Claire, WI and Muskegon, MI are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Muskegon works out to about $75,200 in Eau Claire, before taxes.
- Housing is 1.9% lower in Eau Claire, goods 0.1% higher and other services 0.2% lower, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,147 a month in Eau Claire and $1,288 in Muskegon, $1,692 a year less in Eau Claire (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $322,000 in Eau Claire and $255,000 in Muskegon.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (0.7%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Muskegon and Eau Claire
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Muskegon, MI
- Eau Claire, WI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Muskegon, MI | Eau Claire, WI | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 92.5 | 92.8 |
| Goods | 93.7 | 93.8 |
| Housing (rents) | 74.2 | 72.9 |
| Utilities | 92.8 | 90.9 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 99.4 |
| Category | Muskegon | Eau Claire | Eau Claire vs Muskegon |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 92.5 | 92.8 | +0.3% |
| Goods | 93.7 | 93.8 | +0.1% |
| Housing (rents) | 74.2 | 72.9 | −1.9% |
| Utilities | 92.8 | 90.9 | −2.0% |
| Other services | 99.6 | 99.4 | −0.2% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,288 | $1,147 | −10.9% |
| Typical home value | $255,000 | $322,000 | +26.1% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Muskegon | $75,000 | $75,200 | +0.3% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Muskegon and Eau Claire has narrowed since 2008: 3.5 points then, 0.3 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Muskegon, MI
- Eau Claire, WI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Muskegon, MI | Eau Claire, WI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 93.2 | 96.6 |
| 2009 | 93.9 | 94.4 |
| 2010 | 93.6 | 94.4 |
| 2011 | 91.3 | 94.3 |
| 2012 | 90.8 | 94.8 |
| 2013 | 90.7 | 93.6 |
| 2014 | 92.7 | 94.0 |
| 2015 | 87.3 | 92.3 |
| 2016 | 90.3 | 91.6 |
| 2017 | 89.9 | 91.2 |
| 2018 | 91.8 | 93.2 |
| 2019 | 93.4 | 92.8 |
| 2020 | 93.4 | 92.2 |
| 2021 | 92.0 | 91.9 |
| 2022 | 91.8 | 91.1 |
| 2023 | 91.7 | 91.5 |
| 2024 | 92.5 | 92.8 |
Goods
- Muskegon, MI
- Eau Claire, WI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Muskegon, MI | Eau Claire, WI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.0 | 99.0 |
| 2009 | 97.5 | 97.9 |
| 2010 | 96.5 | 96.7 |
| 2011 | 96.0 | 95.9 |
| 2012 | 97.2 | 97.1 |
| 2013 | 97.0 | 97.0 |
| 2014 | 98.4 | 98.7 |
| 2015 | 97.7 | 98.4 |
| 2016 | 96.8 | 97.6 |
| 2017 | 94.9 | 95.5 |
| 2018 | 97.1 | 97.8 |
| 2019 | 95.9 | 96.4 |
| 2020 | 93.7 | 94.2 |
| 2021 | 94.4 | 94.7 |
| 2022 | 92.1 | 92.0 |
| 2023 | 94.1 | 93.8 |
| 2024 | 93.7 | 93.8 |
Housing (rents)
- Muskegon, MI
- Eau Claire, WI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Muskegon, MI | Eau Claire, WI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 70.7 | 82.0 |
| 2009 | 75.5 | 75.9 |
| 2010 | 74.5 | 76.7 |
| 2011 | 71.9 | 83.4 |
| 2012 | 65.6 | 84.4 |
| 2013 | 64.4 | 73.6 |
| 2014 | 73.6 | 77.3 |
| 2015 | 56.6 | 74.4 |
| 2016 | 65.8 | 69.8 |
| 2017 | 67.3 | 71.2 |
| 2018 | 68.8 | 76.1 |
| 2019 | 75.2 | 71.3 |
| 2020 | 80.8 | 72.4 |
| 2021 | 71.8 | 70.8 |
| 2022 | 76.2 | 71.7 |
| 2023 | 73.6 | 68.8 |
| 2024 | 74.2 | 72.9 |
Utilities
- Muskegon, MI
- Eau Claire, WI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Muskegon, MI | Eau Claire, WI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 93.0 | 101.0 |
| 2009 | 100.3 | 102.6 |
| 2010 | 102.3 | 102.1 |
| 2011 | 103.9 | 103.9 |
| 2012 | 104.6 | 101.4 |
| 2013 | 101.7 | 102.2 |
| 2014 | 93.6 | 96.7 |
| 2015 | 93.1 | 95.1 |
| 2016 | 91.9 | 91.2 |
| 2017 | 94.0 | 95.7 |
| 2018 | 97.0 | 98.5 |
| 2019 | 94.8 | 93.9 |
| 2020 | 98.0 | 93.8 |
| 2021 | 99.0 | 96.5 |
| 2022 | 93.2 | 90.7 |
| 2023 | 91.9 | 91.0 |
| 2024 | 92.8 | 90.9 |
Other services
- Muskegon, MI
- Eau Claire, WI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Muskegon, MI | Eau Claire, WI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.1 | 99.8 |
| 2009 | 99.7 | 99.4 |
| 2010 | 99.1 | 98.8 |
| 2011 | 96.9 | 96.6 |
| 2012 | 97.1 | 96.8 |
| 2013 | 97.9 | 98.1 |
| 2014 | 96.6 | 96.4 |
| 2015 | 95.0 | 94.9 |
| 2016 | 96.3 | 96.0 |
| 2017 | 95.3 | 95.1 |
| 2018 | 96.5 | 95.6 |
| 2019 | 98.6 | 98.3 |
| 2020 | 97.8 | 97.7 |
| 2021 | 97.9 | 97.9 |
| 2022 | 98.2 | 97.6 |
| 2023 | 97.7 | 97.7 |
| 2024 | 99.6 | 99.4 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,147 in Eau Claire vs $1,288 in Muskegon
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Muskegon, MI
- Eau Claire, WI
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Muskegon, MI | Eau Claire, WI | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | – | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | – | – | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | – | – | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | – | – | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | – | – | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | – | – | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | – | – | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | – | – | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | – | – | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | – | – | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | – | – | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | – | – | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | – | – | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | – | – | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | – | – | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | – | – | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | – | – | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | – | – | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | – | – | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | – | – | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | – | – | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | – | – | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $909 | – | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $952 | – | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $958 | – | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $992 | $928 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,026 | $962 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,044 | $1,004 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,032 | $1,020 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,043 | $1,025 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,066 | $1,048 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,071 | $1,056 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,079 | $1,044 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,108 | $1,081 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,152 | $1,086 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,160 | $1,091 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,172 | $1,088 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,167 | $1,110 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,201 | $1,122 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,225 | $1,100 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,196 | $1,118 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,270 | $1,129 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,302 | $1,145 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,288 | $1,147 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $322,000 in Eau Claire vs $255,000 in Muskegon
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Muskegon, MI
- Eau Claire, WI
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Muskegon, MI | Eau Claire, WI | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $96K | $156K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $99K | $159K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $102K | $160K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $104K | $163K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $107K | $166K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $110K | $167K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $112K | $168K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $115K | $171K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $119K | $174K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $122K | $177K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $126K | $179K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $129K | $183K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $132K | $185K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $136K | $189K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $139K | $192K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $140K | $193K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $143K | $197K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $147K | $201K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $149K | $203K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $154K | $206K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $158K | $210K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $159K | $214K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $164K | $220K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $174K | $230K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $184K | $237K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $195K | $247K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $199K | $255K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $201K | $256K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $212K | $265K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $223K | $278K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $224K | $278K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $221K | $277K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $218K | $281K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $221K | $289K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $225K | $293K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $227K | $293K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $231K | $298K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $237K | $303K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $238K | $305K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $239K | $307K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $241K | $311K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $241K | $313K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $245K | $312K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $248K | $316K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $251K | $320K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $253K | $319K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $255K | $322K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.