Arlington vs Clearwater
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Arlington
Clearwater
The Verdict
Arlington is 6.8% less expensive than Clearwater overall. A household earning $75,000 in Arlington would need approximately $80,469 in Clearwater to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Arlington has the same purchasing power as $80,469 in Clearwater.
Conversely, $75,000 in Clearwater equals $69,903 in Arlington.
Living in Arlington vs Clearwater
Housing Costs
Arlington's housing index of 86 is lower Clearwater's 115, translating to median home prices of $260,000 vs $385,000. The $125,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,124 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,300/mo in Arlington compared to $1,625/mo in Clearwater, a monthly difference of $325.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 96 in Arlington and 102 in Clearwater. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Arlington vs $485/month in Clearwater. Arlington offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $348/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 99 in Arlington and 101 in Clearwater. Monthly utility bills average approximately $396 in Arlington vs $404 in Clearwater. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 100 in Arlington and 92 in Clearwater. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $60,138 in Arlington and $66,400 in Clearwater. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $62,644 and $64,466 respectively. Clearwater residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,403/month to housing in Arlington vs $1,549/month in Clearwater. In Arlington, median rent of $1,300/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 29 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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