Clearwater vs Lexington
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Clearwater
Lexington
The Verdict
Lexington is 10.8% less expensive than Clearwater overall. A household earning $75,000 in Clearwater would need approximately $67,718 in Lexington 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 $67,718 in Lexington.
Conversely, $75,000 in Lexington equals $83,065 in Clearwater.
Living in Clearwater vs Lexington
Housing Costs
Clearwater's housing index of 115 is higher Lexington's 82, translating to median home prices of $385,000 vs $245,000. The $140,000 difference in home prices means roughly $9,096 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,625/mo in Clearwater compared to $1,200/mo in Lexington, a monthly difference of $425.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 102 in Clearwater and 96 in Lexington. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $485/month in Clearwater vs $456/month in Lexington. Lexington 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 91 in Lexington. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Clearwater vs $364 in Lexington. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 92 in Clearwater and 94 in Lexington. 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 $55,648 in Lexington. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $64,466 and $59,837 respectively. Clearwater residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,549/month to housing in Clearwater vs $1,298/month in Lexington. In Clearwater, median rent of $1,625/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Lexington, median rent of $1,200/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 33 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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