| Index | Clearwater | Florida | National |
| Cost of living | 111 | 102 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 102 | 100 |
| Health care | 106 | 104 | 100 |
| Housing | 126 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 106 | 103 | 100 |
| Utilities | 110 | 110 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 105 | 104 | 100 |
| Household Items | 102 | 102 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 107 | 106 | 100 |
Knowing the cost of living in Clearwater allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Clearwater stands at 111, marking it 11% higher than the national average.
Housing costs are a major factor in the Clearwater cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 25.8% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.
Is Clearwater affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Clearwater, the median home price is 27% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 23.1% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Clearwater boasting a median household income of $73,637, 9.5% lower than the national average.
Transportation: When public transportation options are limited or non-existent, residents frequently resort to vehicle ownership, which can significantly contribute to the overall cost of living. Monthly financial obligations encompass fuel, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or financing expenses. In Clearwater, the transportation index is 5.6% higher than the national average.
Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In Clearwater, the groceries index is 1.1% higher than the national average.
Subsidies: Certain cities or states may institute government subsidies or assistance programs designed to alleviate the financial burdens associated with the cost of living for their residents. These programs encompass a variety of support mechanisms, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farm subsidies. Areas that provide fewer subsidies may see an uptick in their overall cost of living.
The Clearwater cost of living data above is designed around a U.S. average baseline of 100, allowing for easy comparisons of relative living costs. Housing incorporates U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other figures are AI-assisted estimates that account for regional price trends, climate, transportation dynamics, and common everyday expenses. These values are best used as directional city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $94,806 | $7,901 | $2,212 | $2,844 |
| Renters | $57,145 | $4,762 | $1,333 | $1,715 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Florida | 6% | 7.5% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Florida | 0% | 0% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| South Highpoint, FL | 6,065 | 94 | 6.3% |
| Lealman, FL | 22,381 | 97 | 2.7% |
| West Lealman, FL | 14,846 | 97 | 2.6% |
| Largo, FL | 87,579 | 99 | 0.9% |
| Pinellas Park, FL | 55,392 | 104 | 4.1% |
| Clearwater, FL | 120,302 | 111 | 11.0% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Beaumont, TX | 120,037 | 91 | 9.0% |
| Provo, UT | 119,883 | 114 | 13.5% |
| Brandon, FL | 119,685 | 110 | 10.1% |
| Independence, MO | 120,977 | 90 | 9.7% |
| Fairfield, CA | 121,000 | 151 | 50.7% |
| Clearwater, FL | 120,302 | 111 | 11.0% |
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