City Comparison

Clearwater vs Franklin

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Clearwater

Florida
103
Average
$385,000
Median Home
$1,625/mo
Median Rent
$66,400
Median Income

Franklin

Tennessee
139
Expensive
$750,000
Median Home
$1,850/mo
Median Rent
$118,200
Median Income

The Verdict

25.9%

Living in Clearwater costs 25.9% less than Franklin. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Clearwater, you would need $101,214 in Franklin.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
115
Clearwater
230
Franklin
Groceries
102
Clearwater
100
Franklin
Utilities
101
Clearwater
97
Franklin
Transportation
100
Clearwater
90
Franklin
Healthcare
92
Clearwater
91
Franklin

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Clearwater has the same purchasing power as $101,214 in Franklin.

Conversely, $75,000 in Franklin equals $55,576 in Clearwater.

Living in Clearwater vs Franklin

Housing Costs

Clearwater's housing index of 115 is lower Franklin's 230, translating to median home prices of $385,000 vs $750,000. The $365,000 difference in home prices means roughly $23,724 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,625/mo in Clearwater compared to $1,850/mo in Franklin, a monthly difference of $225.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 102 in Clearwater and 100 in Franklin. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $485/month in Clearwater vs $475/month in Franklin. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 101 in Clearwater and 97 in Franklin. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Clearwater vs $388 in Franklin. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 92 in Clearwater and 91 in Franklin. 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 $66,400 in Clearwater and $118,200 in Franklin. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $64,466 and $85,036 respectively. Franklin residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,549/month to housing in Clearwater vs $2,758/month in Franklin. In Clearwater, median rent of $1,625/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Franklin, median rent of $1,850/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 115 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Clearwater is 25.9% more affordable overall with an index of 103 vs 139.
A $75,000 salary in Clearwater has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $101,214 in Franklin, based on the cost of living difference.
Clearwater's housing index is 115 with median homes at $385,000, while Franklin's is 230 with median homes at $750,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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