Alexandria vs Clearwater
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Alexandria
Clearwater
The Verdict
Living in Clearwater costs 40.8% less than Alexandria. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Alexandria, you would need $53,276 in Clearwater.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has the same purchasing power as $53,276 in Clearwater.
Conversely, $75,000 in Clearwater equals $105,583 in Alexandria.
Living in Alexandria vs Clearwater
Housing Costs
Alexandria's housing index of 201 is higher Clearwater's 115, translating to median home prices of $590,000 vs $385,000. The $205,000 difference in home prices means roughly $13,320 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,125/mo in Alexandria compared to $1,625/mo in Clearwater, a monthly difference of $500.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 113 in Alexandria and 102 in Clearwater. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $537/month in Alexandria vs $485/month in Clearwater. Clearwater offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $624/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Alexandria and 101 in Clearwater. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Alexandria vs $404 in Clearwater. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 102 in Alexandria and 92 in Clearwater. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 10-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $119,700 in Alexandria and $66,400 in Clearwater. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,552 and $64,466 respectively. Alexandria residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,793/month to housing in Alexandria vs $1,549/month in Clearwater. In Alexandria, median rent of $2,125/mo fits within this budget. In Clearwater, median rent of $1,625/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 86 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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