Clearwater vs Oxnard
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Clearwater
Oxnard
The Verdict
Clearwater is 33.1% less expensive than Oxnard overall. A household earning $75,000 in Clearwater would need approximately $112,136 in Oxnard 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 $112,136 in Oxnard.
Conversely, $75,000 in Oxnard equals $50,162 in Clearwater.
Living in Clearwater vs Oxnard
Housing Costs
Clearwater's housing index of 115 is lower Oxnard's 253, translating to median home prices of $385,000 vs $653,000. The $268,000 difference in home prices means roughly $17,424 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,625/mo in Clearwater compared to $1,925/mo in Oxnard, a monthly difference of $300.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 102 in Clearwater and 112 in Oxnard. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $485/month in Clearwater vs $532/month in Oxnard. Clearwater offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $564/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 101 in Clearwater and 107 in Oxnard. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Clearwater vs $428 in Oxnard. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 92 in Clearwater and 113 in Oxnard. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 21-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 $96,200 in Oxnard. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $64,466 and $62,468 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 $2,245/month in Oxnard. In Clearwater, median rent of $1,625/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Oxnard, median rent of $1,925/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 138 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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