Clearwater vs Long Beach
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Clearwater
Long Beach
💡 The Verdict
Clearwater is 30% cheaper than Long Beach overall. A $75,000 salary in Clearwater is equivalent to $107,639 in Long Beach.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Clearwater (left) vs Long Beach (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Clearwater versus Long Beach. Differences shown from Clearwater perspective.
| Item | Clearwater | Long Beach | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $1,350/mo | $1,580/mo | $-230.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,810/mo | $2,200/mo | $-390.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $2,320/mo | $2,950/mo | $-630.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $2.83 | $3.14 | $-0.31 |
| Milk (gallon) | $4.16 | $4.19 | $-0.03 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $3.24 | $3.34 | $-0.10 |
| Coffee (latte) | $5.90 | $5.87 | +$0.03 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.51 | $3.71 | $-0.20 |
| Restaurant Meal | $16.28 | $20.86 | $-4.58 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Clearwater has the same purchasing power as $107,639 in Long Beach.
Conversely, $75,000 in Long Beach equals $52,258 in Clearwater.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
The $4651 difference is driven by California having a higher state income tax rate. Florida details → · California details →
Reading These Numbers: Clearwater (108) vs Long Beach (155)
Clearwater at 108 is 8% above the US average, while Long Beach at 155 is 55% above average. There is a meaningful cost gap between these two cities that affects day-to-day budgeting.
In Clearwater, the composite index of 108 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 130, followed by groceries (107), utilities (100), transportation (111), and healthcare (107). Housing is the primary cost driver here.
For renters: With median rents of $1,810/mo in Clearwater and $2,200/mo in Long Beach, the annual rent difference is approximately $4,680.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $23,400.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $283,000.0 difference in median home prices between Clearwater and Long Beach translates to meaningful differences in mortgage payments at current rates. Factor this into your budget alongside property taxes and insurance, which also vary by location.
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Making Your Decision: Clearwater vs Long Beach
Choosing between Clearwater and Long Beach involves more than just comparing index numbers. Consider how each category aligns with your personal spending patterns. If you work from home, transportation costs matter less than housing and utilities. If you eat out frequently, the groceries index may understate your actual food spending — look at the restaurant meal prices in the detailed comparison table above instead.
When weighing Clearwater against Long Beach, think beyond the composite index. Your personal savings rate, retirement timeline, and family size all influence which cost categories dominate your budget. Someone spending sixty percent of income on housing and childcare will experience these two cities very differently than a single renter whose largest variable expense is dining out. Model your own spending breakdown against the category indices above for the most realistic comparison.