City Comparison

Clearwater vs Peoria

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Clearwater

Florida
103
Average
$385,000
Median Home
$1,625/mo
Median Rent
$66,400
Median Income

Peoria

Illinois
76
Very Affordable
$164,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$58,700
Median Income

The Verdict

35.5%

Peoria is 35.5% less expensive than Clearwater overall. A household earning $75,000 in Clearwater would need approximately $55,340 in Peoria to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
115
Clearwater
42
Peoria
Groceries
102
Clearwater
97
Peoria
Utilities
101
Clearwater
103
Peoria
Transportation
100
Clearwater
108
Peoria
Healthcare
92
Clearwater
107
Peoria

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Clearwater has the same purchasing power as $55,340 in Peoria.

Conversely, $75,000 in Peoria equals $101,645 in Clearwater.

Living in Clearwater vs Peoria

Housing Costs

Clearwater's housing index of 115 is higher Peoria's 42, translating to median home prices of $385,000 vs $164,000. The $221,000 difference in home prices means roughly $14,364 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 Peoria, a monthly difference of $625.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 102 in Clearwater and 97 in Peoria. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $485/month in Clearwater vs $461/month in Peoria. 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 103 in Peoria. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Clearwater vs $412 in Peoria. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 92 in Clearwater and 107 in Peoria. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 15-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 $58,700 in Peoria. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $64,466 and $77,237 respectively. Peoria 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 $1,370/month in Peoria. In Clearwater, median rent of $1,625/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Peoria, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 73 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Peoria is 35.5% more affordable overall with an index of 76 vs 103.
A $75,000 salary in Clearwater has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $55,340 in Peoria, based on the cost of living difference.
Clearwater's housing index is 115 with median homes at $385,000, while Peoria's is 42 with median homes at $164,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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