Clearwater vs Memphis
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Clearwater
Memphis
The Verdict
Memphis is 22.6% less expensive than Clearwater overall. A household earning $75,000 in Clearwater would need approximately $61,165 in Memphis 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 $61,165 in Memphis.
Conversely, $75,000 in Memphis equals $91,964 in Clearwater.
Living in Clearwater vs Memphis
Housing Costs
Clearwater's housing index of 115 is higher Memphis's 63, translating to median home prices of $385,000 vs $155,000. The $230,000 difference in home prices means roughly $14,952 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,625/mo in Clearwater compared to $1,000/mo in Memphis, a monthly difference of $625.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 102 in Clearwater and 93 in Memphis. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $485/month in Clearwater vs $442/month in Memphis. Memphis offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $516/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 101 in Clearwater and 88 in Memphis. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Clearwater vs $352 in Memphis. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 92 in Clearwater and 92 in Memphis. 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 $41,228 in Memphis. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $64,466 and $49,081 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 $962/month in Memphis. In Clearwater, median rent of $1,625/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Memphis, median rent of $1,000/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 52 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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