Clearwater vs Montgomery
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Clearwater
Montgomery
The Verdict
Montgomery is 30.4% less expensive than Clearwater overall. A household earning $75,000 in Clearwater would need approximately $57,524 in Montgomery 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 $57,524 in Montgomery.
Conversely, $75,000 in Montgomery equals $97,785 in Clearwater.
Living in Clearwater vs Montgomery
Housing Costs
Clearwater's housing index of 115 is higher Montgomery's 49, translating to median home prices of $385,000 vs $162,000. The $223,000 difference in home prices means roughly $14,496 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 Montgomery, a monthly difference of $625.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 102 in Clearwater and 99 in Montgomery. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $485/month in Clearwater vs $470/month in Montgomery. 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 115 in Montgomery. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Clearwater vs $460 in Montgomery. 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 78 in Montgomery. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 14-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 $56,800 in Montgomery. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $64,466 and $71,899 respectively. Montgomery 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 $1,325/month in Montgomery. In Clearwater, median rent of $1,625/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Montgomery, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 66 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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