City Comparison

Clearwater vs Roseville

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Clearwater

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

Roseville

California
139
Expensive
$625,000
Median Home
$2,000/mo
Median Rent
$142,800
Median Income

The Verdict

25.9%

The cost gap between these cities is 25.9%, with Clearwater being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Clearwater has equivalent purchasing power to $101,214 in Roseville.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
115
Clearwater
179
Roseville
Groceries
102
Clearwater
105
Roseville
Utilities
101
Clearwater
163
Roseville
Transportation
100
Clearwater
134
Roseville
Healthcare
92
Clearwater
106
Roseville

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Clearwater has the same purchasing power as $101,214 in Roseville.

Conversely, $75,000 in Roseville equals $55,576 in Clearwater.

Living in Clearwater vs Roseville

Housing Costs

Clearwater's housing index of 115 is lower Roseville's 179, translating to median home prices of $385,000 vs $625,000. The $240,000 difference in home prices means roughly $15,600 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,625/mo in Clearwater compared to $2,000/mo in Roseville, a monthly difference of $375.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 102 in Clearwater and 105 in Roseville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $485/month in Clearwater vs $499/month in Roseville. 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 163 in Roseville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Clearwater vs $652 in Roseville. 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 106 in Roseville. 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 $142,800 in Roseville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $64,466 and $102,734 respectively. Roseville 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 $3,332/month in Roseville. In Clearwater, median rent of $1,625/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Roseville, median rent of $2,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 64 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Clearwater is 25.9% more affordable overall with an index of 103 vs 139.
A $75,000 salary in Clearwater has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $101,214 in Roseville, based on the cost of living difference.
Clearwater's housing index is 115 with median homes at $385,000, while Roseville's is 179 with median homes at $625,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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