Clearwater vs Madison
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Clearwater
Madison
The Verdict
Clearwater is 2.8% less expensive than Madison overall. A household earning $75,000 in Clearwater would need approximately $77,184 in Madison 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 $77,184 in Madison.
Conversely, $75,000 in Madison equals $72,877 in Clearwater.
Living in Clearwater vs Madison
Housing Costs
Clearwater's housing index of 115 is equal to Madison's 115, translating to median home prices of $385,000 vs $340,000. The $45,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,928 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,625/mo in Clearwater compared to $1,400/mo in Madison, a monthly difference of $225.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 102 in Clearwater and 101 in Madison. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $485/month in Clearwater vs $480/month in Madison. 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 Madison. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Clearwater vs $388 in Madison. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 92 in Clearwater and 105 in Madison. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 13-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 $67,565 in Madison. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $64,466 and $63,741 respectively. Clearwater residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,549/month to housing in Clearwater vs $1,577/month in Madison. In Clearwater, median rent of $1,625/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Madison, median rent of $1,400/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Healthcare, where the gap is 13 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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