Clearwater vs Lafayette
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Clearwater
Lafayette
The Verdict
Lafayette is 14.4% less expensive than Clearwater overall. A household earning $75,000 in Clearwater would need approximately $65,534 in Lafayette 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 Clearwater has the same purchasing power as $65,534 in Lafayette.
Conversely, $75,000 in Lafayette equals $85,833 in Clearwater.
Living in Clearwater vs Lafayette
Housing Costs
Clearwater's housing index of 115 is higher Lafayette's 73, translating to median home prices of $385,000 vs $214,000. The $171,000 difference in home prices means roughly $11,112 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,625/mo in Clearwater compared to $1,100/mo in Lafayette, a monthly difference of $525.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 102 in Clearwater and 96 in Lafayette. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $485/month in Clearwater vs $456/month in Lafayette. Lafayette offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $348/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 101 in Clearwater and 97 in Lafayette. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Clearwater vs $388 in Lafayette. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 92 in Clearwater and 80 in Lafayette. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 12-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $66,400 in Clearwater and $61,900 in Lafayette. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $64,466 and $68,778 respectively. Lafayette 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 $1,444/month in Lafayette. In Clearwater, median rent of $1,625/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Lafayette, median rent of $1,100/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 42 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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