What is the cost of living in Clearwater, FL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Clearwater has an overall cost of living index of 112, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Florida, Clearwater has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Florida's index of 104.
The standard of living in Clearwater ranks as #248 most affordable out of the 462 places we measured in Florida. By definition, that implies Clearwater ranks as the #214 most expensive place in the Sunshine State.
For more reading on life in Clearwater, check out:
Clearwater Cost Of Living Vs. Florida
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Clearwater. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Clearwater is 102.
The Groceries index in Clearwater is 105.
The Health index in Clearwater is 127.
The Housing index in Clearwater is 104.
The Transportation index in Clearwater is 111.
The Utilities index in Clearwater is 104.
| Living Expense | Clearwater | Florida | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 112 | 104 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 101 | 100 |
| Groceries | 105 | 105 | 100 |
| Health | 127 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 104 | 104 | 100 |
| Transportation | 111 | 109 | 100 |
| Utilities | 104 | 105 | 100 |
Clearwater Cost Of Living Compared To Florida Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Florida, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Clearwater Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Clearwater, FL Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Florida, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Clearwater is $339,488.
The Median Rent in Clearwater is $1,658.
The Median Income in Clearwater is $66,381.
The Home Value To Income in Clearwater is 5.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Clearwater is 0.3x.
| Statistic | Clearwater | Florida | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $339,488 | $375,661 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,658 | $1,669 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $66,381 | $74,568 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.1x | 5.0x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.3x | 0.27x | 0.21x |
Clearwater, FL Costs By Category
Detailed Clearwater Services costs vs. Florida
| Item | Clearwater | Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.48 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $8.61 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $19.67 | $18 |
| Haircut | $15.67 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $54.72 | $45.56 |
Detailed Clearwater Groceries costs vs. Florida
| Item | Clearwater | Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.06 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.48 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.56 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.34 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $8.38 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.69 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.67 | $3.7 |
Detailed Clearwater Health costs vs. Florida
| Item | Clearwater | Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $146.67 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $122.32 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $103.33 | $113.29 |
Detailed Clearwater Transportation costs vs. Florida
| Item | Clearwater | Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.42 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $57.28 | $59.92 |
Detailed Clearwater Utilities costs vs. Florida
| Item | Clearwater | Florida |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $219.66 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $194.37 | $192.25 |
Clearwater SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Clearwater
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Clearwater. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Largo, FL has a cost of living index of 101, 0.9x Clearwater.
Palm Harbor, FL has a cost of living index of 114, 1.0x Clearwater.
Pinellas Park, FL has a cost of living index of 102, 0.9x Clearwater.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Clearwater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largo, FL | 82,617 | 101 | 0.9x |
| Palm Harbor, FL | 61,512 | 114 | 1.0x |
| Pinellas Park, FL | 53,560 | 102 | 0.9x |
| Carrollwood, FL | 36,725 | 115 | 1.0x |
| Dunedin, FL | 36,062 | 110 | 1.0x |
| Citrus Park, FL | 28,804 | 119 | 1.1x |
| Keystone, FL | 25,858 | 134 | 1.2x |
| Northdale, FL | 25,710 | 117 | 1.0x |
| Trinity, FL | 18,907 | 129 | 1.2x |
| Safety Harbor, FL | 17,033 | 121 | 1.1x |
